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Mobile internet and differing network offers

Something that intrigues me about mobile internet - we use it here as our primary connection as it's the only way we can get a broadband service. That's on 3 and it works very well.

I tried all the networks but none can match 3 for performance or price. Indeed most networks work out to be quite expensive when you attempt to use the connection for everything as your primary/only connection e.g. YouTube, movie downloads and so forth. Data is very expensive.

Yet, by comparison, 3 practically give it away. Which would then lead you to think that the performance on 3 would be dreadful as it fills to capacity. Yet, it seems to rate very well, if not top, among the operators.

I have a duplicitous vested interest given that we churn through between about 5GB and 10GB per month with it (more now it's a bit quicker than it used to be) and, actually, it isn't expensive per se. It's cheaper than ADSL (and much cheaper on a market 1 exchange) since you have to add line rental. I'd pay more than I do now, but many wouldn't. On the other hand, if it went to bits and became oversubscribed, I'd have to find an alternative and so would others.

What is 3's "secret" - they claim it's "built for mobile broadband". In what way does it differ to the others?
 
We have been doing some trials with the 3 wholesale network and tbh its a good network for 3G mobile broadband.
Vodafone network tends to be good as well.
 
Three (3)'s strength is obviously that it has, from birth, focused on 3G and data applications.

However it's really important to recognise that no one operator is perfect and 3's lack of lower frequency spectrum limits their coverage but also means that they have to invest more to cover a similar area to say.. O2 or Vodafone.

Every operator is different so while 3 may work well where you are, there will be other locations where their rivals have all the strength. Mobile is such a hugely variable service that comparing services on a national scale is extremely difficult, just pick what works best for how you function.

I use 3 because they're the best for where I live, but if I go roaming around the UK or outside of the country then I might be inclined to pick an O2 or Vodafone SIM as the coverage with them has always seemed a little better. IMO of course.
 
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Generally, at least in the south, I've found 3 to be best for the (backup) home use in the suburbs and in the countryside and outside of the major towns (where the other operators are better, and seem to be more concentrated, in terms of 3G).

I've assumed this is because coming late to the party, it's more difficult to obtain in-town sites. Three also appear to have more "local" sites, with perhaps less local "blocking" of the signal by obstructions? I've noticed very little improvement in terms of geographic expansion of 3G with other operators, and in the case of EE their amalgamation seems to have made things noticeably worse (except in terms of 2G roaming).
 
No personal experience, but my sister lives on a narrow-boat, trundling around the waterways, not one with a fixed mooring. She is, of course, very often out in the sticks, and has found that 3 seems to be the best bet for her overall. From what I recall of her blog covering a "Grand Tour" lasting just over a year and a half, she's been able to post updates pretty regularly without much of a problem apart from in the Shropshire/Wales border area, where she had no signal for about a week.
 
However it's really important to recognise that no one operator is perfect and 3's lack of lower frequency spectrum limits their coverage but also means that they have to invest more to cover a similar area to say.. O2 or Vodafone.

I wonder if this is the key to it - put simply, more cells = more bandwidth to go around when there's hardly a great deal of it to be had anyway. Having put in the investment, they can be more generous than the others.
 
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