EE - Any good?

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Peteaud

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I am with Tesco Mobile at the moment and hopeless isn't the word, so, I am looking at EE as a possible.

Anyone have any views on them, good or bad.
 
I've been with EE for a few years, well T-Mobile and then EE when they were taken over.
I do a lot of travelling, and the coverage is good, although the signal strength on 4G isn't as good as they like to think it is,
but at least its constant / consistent.
No complaints here.
 
boliston said:
EE force you to buy a bundle which I am against in principle.
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Never had an issue with that I bought what I wanted, a 2 year contract, unlimited text calls and internet.
When that ran out, I went sim only. Same "bundle" half the price. but the internet was reduced slightly.
No problem with that either as I wasn't using anything like I thought I was.

I guess its like anything, be prepared to walk away if they won't play your game.
 
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When I was looking to change mobile provider I bought payg sims from each and tried them in places where I wanted it to work. By a long stretch Three was the best for signal everywhere. That said I have had an EE (used to be Orange) payg sim since the year dot in my 'emergency' phone which is calls only and even though I hardly ever switch it on I still have credit in it.
 
EE is the biggest, most resilient network in the UK, when it comes to 4G there really isn't another network to match it, (Vodafone are pushing their investment and might be comparable in a year or 2, unfortunately their 3G is poor).

Three is pretty similar to EE for 3G (which isn't surprising as they share the great majority of 3G sites) but has abysmal 4G coverage and no 2G back up of their own (the old Orange part of EE carries some back up for Three on 2G, but only for voice and sms, no data at all). Three also don't have the spectrum capacity or back haul capability of EE, most shared sites have EE taking 70% of the back haul capacity with Three only getting 30%. Spectrum wise, Three is in trouble, they are already seeing congestion on their network (which is why they have TrafficSense throttling on the network and have started kicking the big users on the old OnePlan tariff off the network).

EE knows that network wise they are well above the others that's why they are expensive, about on par with Vodafone and more than the budget networks like Three.

EE will be running the new emergency services system on their network from early 2017 as a replacement for the current Airwave system so their is going to be significant improvement over 2016 in anticipation for that, from what an EE engineer has told me they have been told to expect to be working overtime every month of 2016 doing new installations and upgrades of existing masts. EE are saying they are aiming for 99% population coverage on 4G by 2017.
 
Dave1 said:
started kicking the big users on the old OnePlan tariff off the network).
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Not off the network, just off the tariff onto one with limited thethering only, not limited mobile data. Although my new plan still has 12gb tethering allowance (£18/month sim only 12 month).

Fwiw I've not had any bother on 3 over 5 years. Data network hasn't ever let me down.
 
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If EE are so wonderful I'm not sure why I would often get a situation where I had 5 bars of signal showing yet a really long wait for many sites to download - it just became very annoying - even using the forum app seemed to take an age at times.
 
neil_g said:
Not off the network, just off the tariff onto one with limited thethering only, not limited mobile data. Although my new plan still has 12gb tethering allowance (£18/month sim only 12 month).

Fwiw I've not had any bother on 3 over 5 years. Data network hasn't ever let me down.
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Same here. Fast, all you can eat data. Being able to use my mobile at no extra cost in Spain or the USA. I think it's great.
 
4g on three and data has been pretty good. Other coverage is abysmal. Generally reliable where you can actually get a signal.

EE were the bottom of consumer satisfaction surveys for quite some time. I don't think they warrant the premium of they remain there!
 
neil_g said:
Not off the network, just off the tariff onto one with limited thethering only, not limited mobile data. Although my new plan still has 12gb tethering allowance (£18/month sim only 12 month).

Fwiw I've not had any bother on 3 over 5 years. Data network hasn't ever let me down.
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Their 3G network is pretty good, they were lucky to get the MBNL agreement with T-Mobile to mast share which then carried over to EE after the merger, the only downside is that it only covers 3G, and Three have to do their own separate 4G roll out which seems to have stalled pretty badly in the last 6-12 months (some think that the owners of Three are pinning their hopes on the purchase of o2 getting EU approval). Three are going to be in trouble if they don't get more spectrum from somewhere, the only hope for them if (when) the o2 purchase is refused will be the forthcoming 2.3 GHz and 3.4 GHz spectrum auction OFCOM have announced, they'll have to buy big for the future.


Ricardodaforce said:
Aren't they about to become the biggest mobile provider in the UK once the purchase of O2 goes through?
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Chance of that happening is pretty remote, the EU refused permission for a similar deal in Denmark about 3 months ago, the main reason given for the refusal was the fact it would mean the Danish market would drop to 3 networks from 4 which they said was anti-competitive. Nothing has changed since last Spetember to see a difference policy on it either.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...al-in-blow-to-Threes-10.25bn-O2-takeover.html

Both OFCOM and the CMA have already voiced opposition to the merger going ahead as well.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/finance/...erger-faces-in-depth-probe-from-Brussels.html

Commissioner Margrethe Vestager in charge of competition policy said: "EU merger control has to make sure that company tie-ups do not lead to reduced innovation, higher prices or reduced choice for consumers and do not restrict competition in the internal market.

I believe that ensuring that markets are competitive is key both to spur much needed innovation and investment in European telecoms markets, as well as to offer affordable prices to consumers.

Every case has to be assessed on its own facts and merits. In this specific case, based on the Commission's in-depth analysis and evidence gathered, we are convinced that the significant competition concerns required an equally significant remedy. This means the creation of a fourth mobile network operator. What the parties offered was not sufficient to avoid harm to competition in Danish mobile markets."
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Just dropped EE. Was OK when I moved over from T-Mobile but rapidly went downhill.

Have had a Three 4G data card in my IPad Air for 18 months now which has been great and I got a 15Gb per month allowance for £18 all in. I will be changing that as I am looking to get a new phone sim and separate data SIM bundle from Three.

My eldest son uses an EE Osprey mini MiFi on EE and is happy with coverage and sped in the North Bristol area. Same with the IPhone 6 on EE he uses.

I had heard a while back that BT were supposed to be buying EE foe £12Bn but not heard any more A bit of a cycle from BT as they started O2 originally.
 
Dave1 said:
(Vodafone are pushing their investment and might be comparable in a year or 2, unfortunately their 3G is poor).
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I'm finding their 4G rather bloody marvellous.
 
Hugh Jarse said:
I had heard a while back that BT were supposed to be buying EE foe £12Bn but not heard any more A bit of a cycle from BT as they started O2 originally.
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The BT purchase should be signed and sealed sometime next month.


viv1969 said:
I'm finding their 4G rather bloody marvellous.
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They've realised they fell asleep at the wheel for a decade and are spending truckloads of money on 4G now so it should be ;).

At least they are also upgrading that awful old 3G at the same time so things really are looking up, Vodafone is the only network with a comparable amount of spectrum to EE, so they have huge potential as well.
 
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Dave1 said:
Their 3G network is pretty good, they were lucky to get the MBNL agreement with T-Mobile to mast share which then carried over to EE after the merger, the only downside is that it only covers 3G, and Three have to do their own separate 4G roll out which seems to have stalled pretty badly in the last 6-12 months......
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I live in a pretty rural location and even had 4g on three when I was up on the quantock hills the other day - I can happily cope with 3g only if I'm out walking somewhere very remote but 4g seems quite good here in somerset
 
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neil_g said:
No neither did we until one day.

I've never experienced anything like it. After 3-4 weeks of being lied to, mislead, given the run around and generally been rude to we cut ties and moved all contracts to 3.
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Fair dos.
I'm betting there's others with similar horror stories for every provider out there.
 
Ee are great for data and3g but my old work phone would be rubbish for calls. Most times calls would drop out. 3 is the best imo. O2 rarely have 3G.
 
Way back, when FiL was on his last legs, we borrowed his mobile so MiL could contact us at any time. Orange (as they were back then) had the best coverage in this area so was FiL's employer's network supplier. When we got mobiles of our own, we stuck with them because we never had any problems and are still with them. Mrs Nod uses 4G and data on her phone (contract) while I use just phone and texts (PAYG).
 
boliston said:
f EE are so wonderful I'm not sure why I would often get a situation where I had 5 bars of signal showing yet a really long wait for many sites to download
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Now that's curious, I used to get 4 bars with T-Mobile, I'm lucky if I get 2 with EE and yet on the odd occasions I use the internet the sites download reasonably well.
 
Im glad you all have good experience with EE I have an old phone on O2 and it works wherever I go my new phone of 3 years (contract ends soon) is with EE and when I get a good signal it flies on 4G BUT where I work and live although I can see mobile masts close by I get No service both at home and work.

I suppose like most things network its where you are that counts unfortunately EE doesnt cover where I generally am............most of the time I use wifi and have stopped getting annoyed at missed calls.
 
You have to try it locally and where you work to make an informed choice. I was on Vodafone but their 4G was basically non existent in Norwich 18 months ago - so I tried 3 - was good in and around Norwich - but as soon as I went across country through the Fens and Rutland it was abysmal. Dropped that for EE and have been mightily impressed - often get download speeds of 30Mbps+ in our of town areas - annoys the hell out of my father that he only gets 5-6Mbps on BT Infinity bug I can get 40 odd from outside on his lawn...
 
I've been with 3 for a few years now and can't fault them, especially like the '3 at home' which allows me to use the tarif exactly the same when i'm in europe, with no extra charges.
 
Been with Orange / EE now for 18 years, Less complaints than most people I know...MIL on Tesco seems to have issues ALL the time....
 
Haakon said:
annoys the hell out of my father that he only gets 5-6Mbps on BT Infinity bug I can get 40 odd from outside on his lawn...
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it hes only getting 6Mb on fibre then hes got some serious issues.

it was always slightly frustrating that I could get 60mb 4G on my sofa but sky would only give me 19mb adsl, although switching to 150mb VM helped :D
 
Haakon said:
You have to try it locally and where you work to make an informed choice. I was on Vodafone but their 4G was basically non existent in Norwich 18 months ago - so I tried 3 - was good in and around Norwich - but as soon as I went across country through the Fens and Rutland it was abysmal. Dropped that for EE and have been mightily impressed - often get download speeds of 30Mbps+ in our of town areas - annoys the hell out of my father that he only gets 5-6Mbps on BT Infinity bug I can get 40 odd from outside on his lawn...
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Unless you are issued a company phone :) its whatever provider they select..........there was talk at one time of the networks sharing resources so that there would be better coverage but that never happened .................If I go online and check coverage EE are convinced that the postcodes I give get 4G where infact I get no G.

As you say its who provides the service where you are that is key.......that said when EE works it works well.
 
This ofcom website should help you decide which is best for your own needs

We're in the process of migrating to EE, based on their hugely better infrastructure (3 x as many masts as anyone else) and the fact that they are throwing money at further improvements.
We're making the change because mobile phone reception on our farm, using Vodaphone, is limited to a small part of our large barn and the area at the foot of the stairs in the house :( Farms aren't the safest of places, and we currently have to rely on long range walkie talkies to stay in touch with each other, which isn't ideal. Don't know yet what we will get with EE, but I don't see that it can be worse.
 
Been using T-moblie since I first got a mobile phone, now EE, because even back then it gave the best coverage in the area, even out in the back of beyond walking the dogs.
Never had a problem and now I've moved a few miles down the road I still get a good signal and 4G so no plans to move.
I do plan to go sim only with them when my contract runs out in August as I own my present phone.
 
Ingrid, if you can get to an EE shop, they can keep your number and change to whatever sort of contract/bundle/PAYG you want to be on. Sunday morning is a good time to speak to someone in there, although January isn't the best month!
 
Nod said:
Ingrid, if you can get to an EE shop, they can keep your number and change to whatever sort of contract/bundle/PAYG you want to be on. Sunday morning is a good time to speak to someone in there, although January isn't the best month!
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Yeah I know they have always been very helpful, but contract doesn't end till August so I can wait
 
I'm on EE and Orange before that, don't use a mobile much, but it seems ok, only had it really for "Orange Wednesday"
 
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We are with BT so really EE and are having a lot of issues with dropped calls, and it isn't the phones and has been happening since we moved to them.
 
Well today on Tesco I could not even send a text, grrrrrrr

looks like it's going to be payg on EE.
 
boliston said:
"feel at home" saved me a fortune in vienna recently - I also keep my old EE sim handy as they can be cheaper than three in some countries
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Three is probably best if frequently travelling abroad. I've spent 3+ weeks in France, Spain and Switzerland in October and my bill was the same as normal. I must have used like 10GB data and a few hours of calls.
 
i started with 0ne20ne which became t-mobile and now EE and i'm still with the same provider, over the years i have had no real problems which is the main reason i stuck with them
my wife has used 3 mobile more or less since launch and is still happy with the service, coverage on both networks seems fine but 3 give you more for your money tariff wise and to be honest in actual use i don't really see much difference between them
 
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