4G SIM NewsMany still see 4G as an expensive luxury, but that perception is set to change as Tesco Mobile launches free 4G for new and existing customers. Tesco Mobile became the first virtual mobile operator, or MVNO, to launch 4G at the end of 2013, using O2’s 4G network, and it has now announced that it will waive the standard charge of £2.50 per month for using 4G, making it a free service instead.
Why Provide 4G For Free?
Tesco’s announcement that they will provide free 4G can be seen as a response to the reduced prices being offered by other 4G providers as they compete for business, and the launch of the Three 4G network, which offers 4G and unlimited data for the same price as 3G.
According to Tesco, they have monitored their current customers’ use of 4G, seeing the benefits that super-fast mobile internet can offer, and they have decided that 4G should be a standard service offering that anyone should be able to afford.
Chief Marketing Officer Simon Groves states that, “Introducing free 4G is a clear example of our intention to provide all of our customers with the very best at no extra cost. As a network we hope that this move will challenge others in the market and encourage the industry to follow suit. We want to see 4G with no extra cost become the norm and networks making the very latest technologies accessible for all.”
Mobile Price Plans from Tesco Mobile
Until the end of January, Tesco had been charging £2.50 per month for the use of 4G. This premium was lifted on 31st January 2014 and existing customers that had been paying the monthly charge will receive a credit on their statements.
Tesco Mobile price plans separate the cost of the handset from the monthly cost of usage to make it easier to upgrade your handset mid contract. In addition to the cost of the phone, which can be spread over 24 months, the price plans available from Tesco Mobile are:
- 500MB data, 250 minutes and 5000 texts for £9 per month
- 1GB data, 500 minutes and 5000 texts for £11.50 per month
- 2GB data, 1000 minutes and 5000 texts for £15 per month
- 3GB data, 3000 minutes and 5000 texts for £19 per month
4G sim-only plans are also available from Tesco Mobile if you already have a 4G ready handset. They are available for one month or 12 months. Examples of 12 month 4G sim-only deals from Tesco include:
- 500MB data, 250 minutes and 5000 texts for £7.50 per month
- 1GB data, 500 minutes and 5000 texts for £12.50 per month
- 2GB data, 1000 minutes and 5000 texts for £15 per month
- 3GB data, 3000 minutes and 5000 texts for £20 per month
While these 4G price plans do offer good value for money, the volume of data available is relatively low, with the largest volume of data being 3GB compared with 20GB from EE. This may be a concern for customers that intend to use their device for regular gaming or video streaming.
Tesco Mobile is committed to making 4G accessible for all, and as well as announcing the availability of free 4G, it has promised a number of other developments over the coming weeks. The provider will be launching 4G data bundles for Pay as you go customers, as well as increasing its range of 4G enabled devices. These are expected to include the Sony Z1 compact and the Moto X. Although Tesco Mobile uses the O2 network, it is able to compete with O2 and set its own prices. 4G from Tesco Mobile is available wherever O2 has rolled out its 4G network.