iD Mobile Launch “New” Fixed Price SIM Only Plans with No Annual Price Hikes
Low-cost UK mobile operator iD Mobile (Currys), which uses Three UK’s national 4G and 5G network via a virtual operator (MVNO) partnership, has today claimed to be launching a “new” set of fixed price SIM Only mobile plans that pledge not to hike their prices each year by the rate of inflation.
The pledge isn’t actually all that surprising when you consider that Ofcom are already in the process of effectively banning any mid-contract price increases that are linked to either inflation or percentage (%) based changes (here). But the regulator’s change doesn’t completely rule out other mid-contract price hikes, which is where iD Mobile’s commitment to “fixed price” plans may come in handy.
On the other hand, iD Mobile has been promising a “SIM Only Price Lock” with “no annual price rises” alongside their mobile plans since around early February 2024, so that aspect isn’t terribly new. The announcement also fails to include any pricing details of the new plans more generally, which might be because they haven’t changed all that much.
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For example, a quick look this morning shows that their entry-level package on a 24-month term now gives you 8GB (GigaBytes) of data with unlimited calls/texts for £7 per month, which is actually £1 more expensive than it was before (note: you get 6GB on a 12-month term for the same price and 5GB for a 30-day term). The top unlimited data plans also seem to be unchanged at £17 for a 24-month term. But it’s possible they haven’t launched the new plans yet (we’re checking).
Lewis Henry, Customer and Marketing Director at iD Mobile, said:
“We understand that in the current cost of living crisis, people are actively seeking better deals across all their everyday essentials. So, we’re fixing our prices across all of our SIM only plans.”
Take note that all of iD Mobile’s plans come with access to 5G, free Data Rollover and inclusive Roaming in 50 destinations worldwide as standard.
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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I pay £7 per month, no contract, 25GB data, plus rollover.
Don’t see why anyone would take out a contract tbh.
Cashback mainly.
You don’t really get cashback with 30 day plans, unless you’re like a handful of months in – plus it’s not as much as if you were to get a 12 month contract
Because on a monthly SIM only your provider, at any point, can choose to change that price with 30 days notice. The contract gives certainty of buying at a fixed price for x time period, or at least know that it’ll only increase as per the contract terms.
Never once had an issue of a rolling plan changing prices. In fact, at Giffgaff I paid the same for years. The only thing that ever changed was how much extra data allowance they gave me.
Only left since I needed WiFi Calling.
Contracts can certainly be good at some price ranges, as shown here where the longer you stay with them, the more data you get.
I’ve only been locked into one 12 month contract with Virgin Mobile and that was 2GB for £5 (something hard to beat even now) and I’m enjoying no contract life quite happily in O2 at unlimited for £7.37.
Id mobile = piggy back three uk = poor 4g speeds if no 5g coverage in your local area no thanks.
Don’t believe in contracts and if they offer crazy prices then contract is good
SMARTY here – no 5G so only 4G and get a pretty solid 30Mpbs
Allegedly eSIMs coming soon to idmobile.
Best mobile plan ever, I’m very happy with Signal & Coverage, monthly plan including data rollover.. Very Satisfied..
I find the decision baffling to me considering Currys is struggling as a company from what I’ve heard. Don’t get me wrong, this is great and should have happened before, but I just think it’s going to take Currys to a quicker demise.
Although this is being marketing campaign at the moment, iD sim only plans didn’t have price rises anyway. The tandcs stated that the price would rise but in reality most never did
It’s just now being publicised due cost of living and the negativity quite rightly of mid contract price rises
Also the majority of iD sim onlys sold were 30 day rolling so if customers were not happy they could just leave
I read Currys has but ID out for tender too sell anyway!!! Id never lock myself in a LTR with a network, PAYG is far better these days
The 4th biggest shareholder after private equity and jd.com walked away from purchasing the group is asking for currys to sell its mobile arm, not currys looking to sell.
Three has extremely poor reception will not take sim with them even if it was Free.
* in your area.
Ditto. In your area perhaps.
Most areas where I live just south of Gatwick airport are awash with 5G including the rurals. Their 4G service in IoW where I also stay is pretty rock solid. iD Mobile have now replaced my home BB at both locations and also my mobile device. Paying less for two unlimited and one 100Gb service than I previously paid for a single lacklustre FTTC service. Not without the odd glitch but wireless is never going to be an exacting technology.