SMARTY Mobile UK Launch New 4G and 5G Data Only SIMs
Mobile operator Smarty has today launched a new range of data-only (mobile broadband) SIMs, which are designed to help you “stay connected on the move” by offering 2GB (GigaBytes) of data for £5, 15GB for £9, 40GB for £13, 100GB for £17 or unlimited data for £20.
As ever, the catch with data-only SIMs is that they often end up looking less competitive than a regular mobile SIM, which would also add unlimited calls and texts. For example, Smarty’s regular mobile SIM Only plan with 100GB of data is just £12 per month, while their data-only SIM equivalent is £17 – both on a 1-month term.
Data Only SIMs tend to cost more because operators expect you to put them into a laptop, MiFi router or tablet computer and thus consume more data, but you could do the same with a regular SIM Only plan too (obviously the calling and SMS features may then become usable).
Sometimes operators may give Data Only SIMs a higher priority for traffic or better speeds via another APN, but key details like this almost NEVER end up being properly communicated to consumers by the operator, which makes it hard for regular consumers to understand why they should pay more for the same data allowance and fewer features.
Sadly, this is one of the longest running and most annoying aspects of mobile service provision in the UK.
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook and Linkedin.
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Interesting hypothesis about faster data. However, both their normal SIMs and these data only SIMs say “no speed caps”, without any further elaboration.
At least the £5 and £9 data SIMs complement their existing range of plans. They’re not really better or worse, just a new price point.
Take note that it was a generalisation, not a specific reference to Smarty. The key point being that it can be hard to know what the difference in price is actually for.
Sure, and to be clear I didn’t mean to criticise.
I wonder whether it would be proper to advertise a lower-priority service as “no speed caps” – there might not be a specific cap in place (like the Vodafone unlimited 2mbit/10mbit plans), but just a higher chance of hitting a slowdown?
I’m assuming it falls into the usual bucket here: perhaps it’s permitted but a bit dishonest. Of course, no evidence of such a priority system has so far emerged for 3/SMARTY. Lots of mention made of such a thing on o2 / giffgaff though!
@Blueacid I have a Three and a Smarty sim in the same phone – I honestly can not tell any difference in the speed of either sim – both on 5G both kicking in around 250mbps on a good day and about 50 when it’s busy.
Speed caps are not the same as traffic prioritisation. Data can be unlimited or “uncapped” but maybe routed over slower/faster links as an example. Users on Data only sim may get routed over their network differently than those other customers on Voice/Data SIMs. Or it could be that data only customers are offered different QoS prior. rules. There are a number of ways which providers can offer what seems to be packages which are identical on paper yet in reality are managed totally diffetently. This article touched on the lack of communication to customers what exactly is the difference between their data only products when compared to the voice/data package. looking similar yet different.
I’d really like to know why it cost more for the data-only sim when you don’t have call&text to cover
The usage modelling of a data only vs “full package” will show higher % of data utilisation on the data only sim.
Plus no opportunity to fleece you on accidentially calling a number not included in your bundle or accidentally sending an MMS.
Supplier’s generally don’t make profit from users who utilise 90%+ of their allowance/capacity.
Because you can overspend on a mobile sim, you can’t on a data sim.
The prospect of that overspend, and the profits it entails across the length of the term (premium rate phone number, international call, premium competion sms, roaming) is enough for them to discount the full package sim.
Might as well set the cap to £0 and get the normal sim, saves you £4 on the unlimited currently
Most likely just a scam to catch those who are unaware, along with all the other unpalatable industry practices regarding data limits contract lengths and sim price points.
Hardly a scam when you read the points made prior to yours.
Shocking Three/ smarty coverage in Northampton. A stones throw away from the town centre has zero- one bar signal (outdoors, fluctuating 3G (4G if the stars align). Go on cellmapper.net & see the dark green/ red areas. Theyre using one main town centre mast to try & cover a too large an area and to top it off the town centre is at a lower elevation than areas where its trying to reach.
Let me tell you about one of the dumbest things out there in this world of mobile internet. Begin. It’s advertised as 5G enabled data sim intended for mobile internet, but how are you expected to use this data only sim plan on a HUAWEI 5G router, especially when it is not compatible according to smarty’s list of compatible 5G devices.
Despite what the compatibility claim is, that router must be compatible since it is used on the three network and was previously offered as part of a contract. Despite this you can buy one of the many other 5G routers to use this sim.
Getting back to the original question of why data Sims are more expensive. Can SMARTY be approached for comment so that we all know the answer?
Smarty state categorically that you cannot use their data sims to replace regular broadband , so they are not a mobile broadband solution.
They are presently telling me that using 100GB a month is beyond their expectation of a user and I am in breach of their rules , which is confusing as they sold the router and sim in a package.
Presently I have 60% data loss due to network congestion , BUT , that data loss is taken into the figure , so technically I have used 40GB data , they dropped the other 60GB and I am being told off for using 100GB