In reply to a post by burble:

When I was with a MVNO which changed networks it required a SIM change, but one post seems to suggest that it swapped networks without a SIM change, unless I've read that wrong.

I think this depends if the host network is running the SIM for the MVNO, or if the MVNO company has purchase enough equipment to run their own SIM deployment. The larger MVNOs (e.g. Virgin Mobile, Tesco Mobile etc) are the latter.

In reply to a post by pluralist:

Which leads me to agree with you that mobile broadband from Lyca is unlikely, at least in the short to medium term.

The only real network with true unlimited plans is Three on their 5G areas, the others all have quite limited FUP, even if they sell "unlimited". Fixed line will always win that race in the long run. Three with their 100 MHz and 40 MHz blocks are trying to see if they can make it work, but the costs of installing these new street works poles is not cheap. Also if the merger with Vodafone goes ahead some spectrum need to be offloaded, which may spoil the party.

Both my phone and Home Broadband are on Three 4G true unlimited*. The Home broadband happily drives streaming F1 on my Sony Bravia (smart) TV, with live timing via the app on my iPad. The router is a couple of years old bog standard Tree.

5G is not an essential. As you have pointed out, 5G national coverage in general isn't widespread by any provider.

* Years ago as you will remember "unlimited" was often accompanied by Ts & Cs of nearly all providers containing restrictions which were either very tight or very low. Ofcom queried Three's and the then CEO published that 1GB was perfectly acceptable but if consistently exceeded might be considered to be business use rather than SOHO.

Yes, and why I said Three above. EE and O2 are around 650 GB a month fair usage in their “unlimited” domestic plans and EE Business is 1000 GB. Not sure about Vodafone. MVNOs like SMARTY are usually lower usage.

Three is unique in having 100 MHz in band 78 but you need to be fairly close to a modern mast to get that. There’s deployment is a bit random.

With only 9.7 million customers compared to the others with 17+ million the Three network does sell some compelling deals. They are also saying it is unsustainable as part of the application to merge with VF.

In reply to a post by pluralist:

5G is not an essential. As you have pointed out, 5G national coverage in general isn't widespread by any provider.

I'm finding my phone (on 1p mobile/EE) showing 5G fairly often now, sometimes in the most unexpected places, but a low signal strength so no real advantage that I can see.

That's good to know as my area doesn't seem to have 5G coverage.

https://www.signalchecker.co.uk/sheerness?postcode=ME12

In reply to a post by hk11:

That's good to know as my area doesn't seem to have 5G coverage.

I wouldn't trust that site. Use the networks themselves, or BIDB(which seems to use the network's checkers). You may have O2 5G coverage, EE and Three are close. Majority of 5G is at 3500 MHz and so you often need to be in line of site of a mast. Some 5G is at 700 MHz rolling out slowly, but this won't have the speeds of the higher frequency.

Given UK homes are pretty much brick built, its worth doing all checks with phones outside.

BIDB just sits there loading; I'll try another device.

https://thumbsnap.com/sq2UzJYm

3 NETWORK ZTE MF286D and Three SIM on their way, so will be testing shortly.

Edited by hk11 (Sun 16-Jul-23 12:27:08)

Post deleted by hk11

In reply to a post by hk11:

BIDB just sits there loading; I'll try another device.

Better with a bigger screen.

For guess house number 10 at postcode ME12 1AG

EE - https://thumbsnap.com/i/SGRhARjR.png
Three - https://thumbsnap.com/i/FzmgBz7g.png
VF - https://thumbsnap.com/i/K2N2Cz4H.png
O2 - https://thumbsnap.com/i/jeK1tiPF.png

The colours are the same as on the network's own coverage map pages, BIDB just overlays on their map to make it easier to compare.

From this I think you have 5G on O2, and NOT on any other network.