EE "listens to customers" with £76 per month 4G tariff
By Nicole Kobie
Posted on 22 Jan 2013 at 16:34
EE has revamped its 4G data plans after "listening to customers" - and responded by unveiling the most expensive tariff in the UK.
In October, EE became the first mobile operator in the UK to offer 4G services, but was heavily criticised for offering a plan with a 500MB cap, which could be chewed through in five minutes at 4G speeds, and not offering an unlimited data option.
The mobile operator hasn't ditched the 500MB plan in its new pricing structure or offered an unlimited plan. Instead, citing feedback from customers, it has introduced a 20GB per month plan, more than doubling its previous 8GB top-end option.
Interview
EE defends its 4G price hikes"The plan addresses a small number of 'super-users' (currently fewer than 1% of 4G customers) who have shown a desire to use more than the 8GB of mobile data that is currently available on EE's largest 4GEE plan," the company said.
Any user who went above the 8GB plan, which costs £56 per month, would have to buy an add-on for more data, so it's no surprise few consumers were going over the limit.
For customers signing up before the end of February, the new 20GB plan will be available for £46 a month for a SIM-only, year-long contract, or £61 per month with a handset on a two-year contract.
As of March, that jumps to £61 and £76 per month, respectively - a whopping £912 a year for a plan with a smartphone. According to searches on Phones 4u and Carphone Warehouse, that's the most expensive consumer contract in the UK.
As well as adding the 20GB plan, EE cut prices on the controversial 500MB data plan, dropping it by £5 to £31 a month for a two-year contract.
New MVNO
EE also announced it was underpinning a new mobile virtual network from handset retailer Phones 4u.
Starting in March, the LIFE Mobile network will offer 3G and 2G services over EE's network, adding 4G later this year.
Phones 4u said it would sell its LIFE Mobile network alongside rival networks in its stores. Pricing plans weren't immediately available.
Profiteering?
I can't imagine any company profiteering in the UK. That makes your article false.
EE are providing value for money by being as expensive as possible, there's nowhere else to go so suck it up.
By Gogster on 22 Jan 2013 
76 quid a month for two years...
Where do I sign up?
Seriously, over two years you'd spend more than my car is worth on that plan.
By Pete_E on 22 Jan 2013
what needs investigating
What EE have failed to explain to me is why, after 4 years on Orange, 2 with Win Mo 6.1 and 2 with WP7 my data usage has jumped from a consistently sub 1Gig to now over 3Gig.
Obviously its not relevant really to compare WM6 and WP but, I am using exactly the same apps on WP8 with EE as I was on WP7 with Orange. Some small difference in usage between OS features would be fair enough, but a 3 fold increase? I think not.
I have been given the excuse that using 4G means that more data comes down the pipe. Not just faster, but more of it! I find this very hard to believe.
so far, I have all expenses refunded, but it is still not sorted out.
More importantly, there will be plenty of less savvy EE customers that will simply be paying out for data that they are not using.
By nickallison on 23 Jan 2013
Wasn't there an article on this site recently that investigated how an increase in bandwidth meant that audio/video streaming services like youtube/spotify/etc... will increase the amount of data they send through? The idea is that they can improve the quality of the media streamed so you effectively get the best service available to your device. Do you use these kinds of services regularly?
By richierace on 23 Jan 2013
@richierace
In a nutshell, very rarely.
maybe 10mins of SD video a month on cellular data..
Never HD.
By nickallison on 23 Jan 2013
more importantly
4g has been switched off since they made that particular claim, in mid December.
By nickallison on 23 Jan 2013
Like all providers.........
We are all just here to be ripped off for anything they can get - not happy with dodging paying their taxes they will screw us for as much as possible. I blame this conservative government who are lining the pockets of big businesses and ripping off the man in the street!
By colincallan1 on 24 Jan 2013
Pointless and expensive
The main reason for having 4G would be to do things like streaming movies, TV and music (sure it's possible to do this on 3G too put the performance is often not up to scratch). But you can't really do any of these things with such low data limits, and the higher-limit plans are ridiculously expensive.
Personally I see no point, email/web/Google maps/facebook/twitter etc. work fine on 3G when I'm out and about and I can keep the online gaming and movie/TV watching to when I'm at home and have cable internet.
By happyskeptic on 24 Jan 2013
@colincallan1
Quote: "I blame this conservative government who are lining the pockets of big businesses and ripping off the man in the street!" Endquote.
[Sarcasm on] Yes. I blame them for this bad weather we are getting and also for global warming. It's all their fault. [/Sarcasm off]
Get a life pal!
By jontym123 on 24 Jan 2013
advertisement
- Flickr redesign: is it enough to tempt photographers back?
- Hands on with the new Google Maps
- Nokia Lumia 925 review: first look
- Why I won't subscribe to Creative Cloud
- GoPro camera strapped to a remote-control helicopter: the ultimate boy's toy
- Acer Iconia A1 review: first look
- Acer Aspire P3 review: first look
- Acer Aspire R7 review: first look
- How we produce the PC Pro podcast
- Google Now draining iPhone battery
- The ICO's shame-faced u-turn on cookies
- Start8 and ModernMix: making Windows 8 work on a desktop
- How to boost your mobile reception
- How to fix Facebook: Social Fixer
- Taking the stress out of WordPress updates
- Where to download free web fonts
- Turn your tablet into a Sky+ remote control
- How to measure the success of a new IT system
- Three years on: the state of the tablet market
- Windows 8: what works and what doesn't
advertisement
