May 30, 2013, 7:52 pm
Last edit by: Silver Fox
This is a stub Wiki for this thread - the idea is that any member can edit it to keep it up to date as a distillation of the best info from the thread.
3 - 200MB Free data SIM
3 - 15 pounds for 300 minutes, 3000 texts, and unlimited 3G data for a month (http://store.three.co.uk/view/searchSimOnly?tariff=112) The deal might not be dead but to buy the addon you need to switch WiFi off (!!) and open http://three.co.uk/my3 on your device as this unlinked support page says. Three customer service and store both says this doesn't work with tablets -- however customer service are idiots and doesn't know what is a tablet only knows phones and iPads (both phone and chat -- this is apparently company level). Tread carefully. Anyways, this method still worked on January 13, 2015.
Note the GBP15 all you can eat deal has now been pulled(Note 8/3/16: All in one with All you can eat data is now GBP25): http://www.threemicrosites.co.uk/AIO20B
If you don't want to buy a bundle or a plan, Three's flat rate for calls is now 3p per minute. The expiry time of one month or three months for topups has now been removed. So you pay only 3p per call minute for what you use.
Three's data is only 1p per MB, and you can buy packages (eg 500MB for 5 pounds). The packages ("add-ons") may not save money directly, but those data packages are eligible for use in "Feel at Home" countries (Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Indonesia, Macau, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Sweden, USA) at no extra charge. See http://support.three.co.uk/SRVS/CGI-...se=EXT(EM11925)
EE: http://shop.ee.co.uk/price-plans/free-sim
Vodafone: https://freesim.vodafone.co.uk
O2: https://www.o2.co.uk/freesim/
giffgaff: www.giffgaff.com/orders/affiliate/nfh (Ł5 free credit) or www.giffgaff.com/orders/free-sim (no free credit)
Three: https://www.three.co.uk/Support/Free_SIM/Order
How do I top up with an overseas card, or can I use PayPal?
Strangely, some firms insist that you must use a UK issued credit card to topup. Some do take PayPal:
Giffgaff
Vodafone
But it is not as prevalent as it should bein this day and age admittedly. There is a firm that some people have reported success with and they are:
https://www.mobiletopup.co.uk/
What frequencies are used in the UK?
There are a total of 5 different frequencies used in the UK used by the mobile networks to deliver their 2G, 3G and 4G mobile services.
800MHz (Band 20)
900MHz (Band 8)
1800MHz (Band 3)
2100MHz (Band 1)
2600MHz (Band 7)
Here's a chart for iPhones and which bands each model can use. http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
If you're not sure which model you have, look on the back of your iPhone or go into Settings-->General-->About-->Legal-->Regulatory
iphone 5 users note that: iPhone 5 cannot get 4G/LTE on the 800MHz or 2600MHz frequencies but it can on the 1800 frequency.
For other users there are a number of resources to check the frequency your phone supports including:
Global Certification Forum
As an example this is the data for a Samsung J1 Ace SM-J111F
GSMARENA
What frequencies do the different operators use?
Each operator in the UK utilises different frequencies to deliver their mobile networks with the core networks being EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. Then there are also operators, called mobile virtual network operators (MVNO), who utilise the backend of the core networks to offer their own services.
The frequencies used by the major UK networks are:
EE (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 1800MHz & 2600MHz
O2 (2G) 900MHz & 1800MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
Vodafone (2G) 900MHz & 1800MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz & 2600MHz
Three (2G) N/A (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz & 1800MHZ
The frequencies used by UK’s MVNO’s are listed below:
Asda Mobile (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) N/A
BT Mobile (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz, 1800MHz & 2100MHz
iD Mobile (2G) N/A (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 1800MHz
Freedom Pop (2G) N/A (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz & 1800MHz
GiffGaff (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
Lebara Mobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) N/A
LycaMobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
TalkMobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) N/A
TalkTalk (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
Tesco Mobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
The People’s Operator (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz, 1800MHz & 2100MHz
Virgin Mobile (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz, 1800MHz, & 2600MHz
Please add and edit!
3 - 200MB Free data SIM
3 - 15 pounds for 300 minutes, 3000 texts, and unlimited 3G data for a month (http://store.three.co.uk/view/searchSimOnly?tariff=112) The deal might not be dead but to buy the addon you need to switch WiFi off (!!) and open http://three.co.uk/my3 on your device as this unlinked support page says. Three customer service and store both says this doesn't work with tablets -- however customer service are idiots and doesn't know what is a tablet only knows phones and iPads (both phone and chat -- this is apparently company level). Tread carefully. Anyways, this method still worked on January 13, 2015.
Note the GBP15 all you can eat deal has now been pulled(Note 8/3/16: All in one with All you can eat data is now GBP25): http://www.threemicrosites.co.uk/AIO20B
If you don't want to buy a bundle or a plan, Three's flat rate for calls is now 3p per minute. The expiry time of one month or three months for topups has now been removed. So you pay only 3p per call minute for what you use.
Three's data is only 1p per MB, and you can buy packages (eg 500MB for 5 pounds). The packages ("add-ons") may not save money directly, but those data packages are eligible for use in "Feel at Home" countries (Australia, Austria, Denmark, Hong Kong, Italy, Indonesia, Macau, Ireland, Sri Lanka, Sweden, USA) at no extra charge. See http://support.three.co.uk/SRVS/CGI-...se=EXT(EM11925)
EE: http://shop.ee.co.uk/price-plans/free-sim
Vodafone: https://freesim.vodafone.co.uk
O2: https://www.o2.co.uk/freesim/
giffgaff: www.giffgaff.com/orders/affiliate/nfh (Ł5 free credit) or www.giffgaff.com/orders/free-sim (no free credit)
Three: https://www.three.co.uk/Support/Free_SIM/Order
How do I top up with an overseas card, or can I use PayPal?
Strangely, some firms insist that you must use a UK issued credit card to topup. Some do take PayPal:
Giffgaff
Vodafone
But it is not as prevalent as it should bein this day and age admittedly. There is a firm that some people have reported success with and they are:
https://www.mobiletopup.co.uk/
What frequencies are used in the UK?
There are a total of 5 different frequencies used in the UK used by the mobile networks to deliver their 2G, 3G and 4G mobile services.
800MHz (Band 20)
900MHz (Band 8)
1800MHz (Band 3)
2100MHz (Band 1)
2600MHz (Band 7)
Here's a chart for iPhones and which bands each model can use. http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/
If you're not sure which model you have, look on the back of your iPhone or go into Settings-->General-->About-->Legal-->Regulatory
iphone 5 users note that: iPhone 5 cannot get 4G/LTE on the 800MHz or 2600MHz frequencies but it can on the 1800 frequency.
For other users there are a number of resources to check the frequency your phone supports including:
Global Certification Forum
As an example this is the data for a Samsung J1 Ace SM-J111F
GSMARENA
What frequencies do the different operators use?
Each operator in the UK utilises different frequencies to deliver their mobile networks with the core networks being EE, O2, Vodafone and Three. Then there are also operators, called mobile virtual network operators (MVNO), who utilise the backend of the core networks to offer their own services.
The frequencies used by the major UK networks are:
EE (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 1800MHz & 2600MHz
O2 (2G) 900MHz & 1800MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
Vodafone (2G) 900MHz & 1800MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz & 2600MHz
Three (2G) N/A (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz & 1800MHZ
The frequencies used by UK’s MVNO’s are listed below:
Asda Mobile (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) N/A
BT Mobile (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz, 1800MHz & 2100MHz
iD Mobile (2G) N/A (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 1800MHz
Freedom Pop (2G) N/A (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz & 1800MHz
GiffGaff (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
Lebara Mobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) N/A
LycaMobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
TalkMobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) N/A
TalkTalk (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
Tesco Mobile (2G) 900MHz (3G) 900MHz & 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz
The People’s Operator (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz, 1800MHz & 2100MHz
Virgin Mobile (2G) 1800MHz (3G) 2100MHz (4G LTE) 800MHz, 1800MHz, & 2600MHz
Please add and edit!
Prepaid SIM - UK/Great Britain/England/Scotland/Wales
Jun 8, 2015, 9:59 pm
#226
Join Date: Apr 2013
Location: BNE
Programs: QF, KLM, BA
Posts: 446
I'd found out about GiffGaff before I went, but at the time I didn't have a way of getting hold of a SIM in time. EE did seem to work fine for me, but I can't compare it against anything else.
Jun 9, 2015, 1:29 am
#227
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BRU / SCQ / LUX
Programs: Iberia, BAEC GOLD/ Priority Club : ROYAL Amb / Miles and More: SEN
Posts: 913
I'm heading over there this month and I'm still undecided. I was considering ASDA Mobile. You can get a 30 day bundle of 2000 minutes, unlimited texts and 4 gigs of data for Ł20. ASDA mobile uses EE. I was in UK in 2013. I bought an Orange SIM then. It was just at the start of the merger of T-Mobile and Orange and you could already roam onto the other network. I travelled mainly in north-east Scotland, Glasgow, Edinburgh and a big loop down the east coast and up the west. Coverage was quite good, even in Scotland.
I'd found out about GiffGaff before I went, but at the time I didn't have a way of getting hold of a SIM in time. EE did seem to work fine for me, but I can't compare it against anything else.
I'd found out about GiffGaff before I went, but at the time I didn't have a way of getting hold of a SIM in time. EE did seem to work fine for me, but I can't compare it against anything else.
You also get Virgin-WIFI in LOndon UNderground.
Jun 9, 2015, 1:30 am
#228
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BRU / SCQ / LUX
Programs: Iberia, BAEC GOLD/ Priority Club : ROYAL Amb / Miles and More: SEN
Posts: 913
I got some mails from Three about a big change for the 5 june. But I do not see any differences :-) Can someone light me up what has changed?
Jun 9, 2015, 3:51 am
#229
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Aug 2000
Location: London and Zurich
Programs: AA, BA, Mucci: Sir Roger des Directions Routičres, PCR
Posts: 13,609
You also get Virgin-WIFI in LOndon UNderground.
- Virgin Media Broadband and Mobile customers
- EE, T-Mobile and Orange
- Vodafone
- O2
- Three
https://www.tfl.gov.uk/campaign/station-wifi
Certain stations only - https://www.tfl.gov.uk/cdn/static/cm...media-wifi.pdf - and above ground, not in tunnels.
Jun 9, 2015, 9:11 pm
#230
Join Date: Sep 2013
Posts: 4
Edit: I just checked and its 300 minutes and 3000 texts.
Jun 10, 2015, 1:18 am
#231
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: BRU / SCQ / LUX
Programs: Iberia, BAEC GOLD/ Priority Club : ROYAL Amb / Miles and More: SEN
Posts: 913
Jun 10, 2015, 9:59 am
#233
Join Date: Sep 2013
Location: MSN
Programs: AA, BAEC Gold
Posts: 3,921
You might look at getting a USB modem (dongle) or WiFi hotspot with a prepaid data plan. You would probably have to visit a store though.
Jun 10, 2015, 10:41 am
#234
Join Date: Jul 2006
Location: North Dallas
Programs: AA Executive Platinum
Posts: 494
Jun 10, 2015, 3:17 pm
#235
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
On giffgaff you can tether on any plan except the unlimited ones. I may have some giffgaff SIMs on me at the moment (I am in the US) if you want me to send one, just PM me if you do and I will take a look tonight.
Jun 10, 2015, 7:46 pm
#236
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
Looking through it seems GiffGaff offers better value.
They have PAYG offers that range from GBP5 to GBP20 a month depending on usage. For a visit I don't see any need in needing unlimited data. Even in my home network using 4G I never exceed 2GB in a month. Sure when you are abroad, you might not have access to wifi at home, and you might use more data, but you are also normally away for a shorter period.
I think GiffGaff uses the o2 network.
They have PAYG offers that range from GBP5 to GBP20 a month depending on usage. For a visit I don't see any need in needing unlimited data. Even in my home network using 4G I never exceed 2GB in a month. Sure when you are abroad, you might not have access to wifi at home, and you might use more data, but you are also normally away for a shorter period.
I think GiffGaff uses the o2 network.
Last edited by theworld; Jun 10, 2015 at 8:25 pm
Jun 10, 2015, 7:50 pm
#237
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Apr 2009
Location: where lions are led by donkeys...
Programs: Lifetime Gold, Global Entry, Hertz PC, and my wallet
Posts: 20,340
Looking through it seems GiffGaff offers better value.
They have PAYG offers that range from GBP5 to GBP20 a month depending on usage. For a visit I don't see any need in needing unlimited data. Even in my home network using 4G I never exceed 2GB in a month. Sure when you are abroad, you might not have access to wifi at home, and you might use more data, but you are also normally away for a shorter period.
I think GiffGaff is one the o2 network.
They have PAYG offers that range from GBP5 to GBP20 a month depending on usage. For a visit I don't see any need in needing unlimited data. Even in my home network using 4G I never exceed 2GB in a month. Sure when you are abroad, you might not have access to wifi at home, and you might use more data, but you are also normally away for a shorter period.
I think GiffGaff is one the o2 network.
Jun 10, 2015, 8:26 pm
#238
Join Date: Feb 2005
Location: Hong Kong
Posts: 2,068
Wow, spotted my typo there, thanks for the confirmation.
In the past when back home I've used both Three and GiffGaff. Overall I did find GiffGaff coverage better (London and Croydon, don't judge). However one major benefit of using Three was the fact we could use the phone for data when we were in France and Austria as part of our PAYG.
In the past when back home I've used both Three and GiffGaff. Overall I did find GiffGaff coverage better (London and Croydon, don't judge). However one major benefit of using Three was the fact we could use the phone for data when we were in France and Austria as part of our PAYG.
Jun 11, 2015, 12:29 pm
#239
Join Date: Nov 2011
Posts: 229
It really depends on how you will use the data plan. Last time we were overseas for a few weeks, we used almost 200 mg per day in watching the market for a few hours and checking for email. For checking less than 30 email per day, we used about 20 mg.
If you plan to use Facetime (either video or just voice), Google Voice, etc. to stay connected, an unlimited data plan would be extremely helpful.
I'd really like to use my iPhone 6+ to share data in UK. Any plan that offers good connection and unlimited data, and is Ok with (or tolerate some) tethering would be great.
T-Mobile's Simple Choice (sold in the US) is a good idea if you travel a lot. The only drawback, for me at least, is that they will do a hard credit pull.
If you plan to use Facetime (either video or just voice), Google Voice, etc. to stay connected, an unlimited data plan would be extremely helpful.
I'd really like to use my iPhone 6+ to share data in UK. Any plan that offers good connection and unlimited data, and is Ok with (or tolerate some) tethering would be great.
T-Mobile's Simple Choice (sold in the US) is a good idea if you travel a lot. The only drawback, for me at least, is that they will do a hard credit pull.