EU roaming - Popit Mobile reduced allowances

colinm said:
Many EU operators have similar 'fair use' policies to those in UK, it's part of EU regulations.
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They are nothing like ours. Our operators can now do and charge what they like since we left for roaming. They can't in the EU. Why do you think there was such a big panic over it here when we left? Why do you think everyone is trying to find ways around it just like we did pre 2017? I remember it well. For years since the noughties we scrabbled around coming up with all sorts of schemes to get online in Europe. After 2017 when EU law changed it was fill your boots time. If you remember the year prior to that it was one of "remains" campaigns that we would lose the free roaming on our holidays and then we did although to be fair for a while at least some providers didn't immediately pull the plug. Why do you think we are having all these threads on motorhome forums now about French sims, Popit this that and the other, IQ and Tiekom? If it was 2017 again I would be heading off to France with our UK Vodafone contracts without a care in the world.
 
I think we might see some changes over the coming months, EE have some “expensive” tariffs that allow 50gb roaming. IQ are trying to negotiate an improvement over 25gb. All the third party suppliers were caught on the hop by the speed and lack of notice from the networks.
 
barge1914 said:
Feedback please from anyone using Id mobile?
Any experience of problems with ‘fair usage’ over the ‘ more use abroad in 4 month period’ issue. We do 2 periods of 90 days.
I see they use ‘3’. Any issues with signal in Scotland or Europe? I seem to remember, years ago now when using Smarty, it always connected to a network in Spain that only worked near big cities…which we avoid and wasn’t too good in Highlands. I prefer EE network but not many low cost piggyback operators use them.

Can you get BBC and Netflix in Europe with Id mobile? Or do you need a VPN? It’s been no problem with EE based providers.

Unlike others who now throttle you down now to 25GB or less, a couple of their £10 sims would suffice for us, we hardly ever use more than 60GB between us.
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Reading the fair usage policy, 90 days abroad should not be an issue if you can provide them with "strong ties to the UK, like a UK bill or bank statement".

I use a Smarty SIM in my mobile router when in Scotland and have encountered only a few locations where I had no signal on 3 for the router but a signal on EE for the RWG SIM in my phone. There was the occasional location where I had neither or had only a 3 signal.

Unfortunately, I would find the 30GB data allowance for roaming totally inadequate.
 
barge1914 said:
There is a ‘stable links’ (with UK) stipulation for 2 months in 4 being in the UK, however you can provide ‘evidence’ of UK residence to get round this. But what and how not indicated. No clear stipulation on total months in the year in UK/EU. It seems the only way to contact them if not an existing customer is by an 0800 number, so for me I’d have to wait a month for return to UK. By when according to Sod’s Law the offer will doubtless have expired! If anyone rings and finds out in the meantime I’d be grateful to hear.
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There are ways of calling a UK 0800 number when abroad. In the past, I have used Skype to make free calls from France to +44 800 numbers.
 
alcam said:
So they could allow roaming if they were so inclined ?
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Remember that roaming is not free to the UK network providers.

The agreements that they have in place with EU network providers will result in charges being raised for UK phone users roaming in the EU. As a consequence UK network providers will be exposed to any increased charges levied by the EU networks.

Similarly, I imagine, EU phone users roaming in the UK will have charges raised which are payable by the EU network provider.

I should think that before we left the EU (and benefited from relatively unrestricted roaming) the network providers collectively accepted a quid pro quo situation.

Ultimately neither UK or EU phone users have benefited because EU phone users coming here will have roaming restricted for them too.

Nobody wins!
 
TJBi said:
Just received an email from Popit advising of reduction in EU roaming allowances effective 01/10/2024 imposed by their connectivity partner:

  • 1GB plan: 512MB for EU roaming
  • 3GB plan: 768MB for EU roaming
  • 10GB plan: 2.5GB for EU roaming
  • 20GB plan: 7.5GB for EU roaming
  • 100GB plan: 25GB for EU roaming
Another option bites the dust!
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Hi, we’re currently touring around Europe for 6 weeks and found a reasonable option for data roaming from Tesco Mobile. Their unlimited data roaming card costs £35/mth. Whilst it’s a contract, you can cancel it after one month if needed. Speeds seem fast and supports 5G. We’ve been using it to make wifi calls home via WhatsApp. There’s also a Spanish company, Tiecom, who do a data roaming card, ‘Only Data 400GB EU’. Whilst in Spain you get 400GB of data a month and the rest of Europe it’s 200GB. Costs £36/mth and can be cancelled after a month. It’ll automatically connect to the fastest 4G/5G in each country and has speeds of up to 150mbps. They speak fluent English, too.
tiekom.com

Data SIM

DATA SIM You asked for it now we have it Be Free With our 4G connection you will enjoy at an incredible speed. Whenever, wherever, and however you want it. Smart Networksconnect smart people When you don'tneed it,you can leavewithout anytypeof penalty.Don't worry about thetype of SIM. We have...
tiekom.com tiekom.com
 
INKA51 said:
Hi, we’re currently touring around Europe for 6 weeks and found a reasonable option for data roaming from Tesco Mobile. Their unlimited data roaming card costs £35/mth. Whilst it’s a contract, you can cancel it after one month if needed. Speeds seem fast and supports 5G. We’ve been using it to make wifi calls home via WhatsApp. There’s also a Spanish company, Tiecom, who do a data roaming card, ‘Only Data 400GB EU’. Whilst in Spain you get 400GB of data a month and the rest of Europe it’s 200GB. Costs £36/mth and can be cancelled after a month. It’ll automatically connect to the fastest 4G/5G in each country and has speeds of up to 150mbps. They speak fluent English, too.
tiekom.com

Data SIM

DATA SIM You asked for it now we have it Be Free With our 4G connection you will enjoy at an incredible speed. Whenever, wherever, and however you want it. Smart Networksconnect smart people When you don'tneed it,you can leavewithout anytypeof penalty.Don't worry about thetype of SIM. We have...
tiekom.com tiekom.com
Click to expand...

Tiekom seems to be the one most are going with for long term touring. I believe you can park it for £3 a month also when you are not using it. Ill maybe go that way when we go for six months next year. I like the idea that it finds the best provider. Vodafone used to do that when we had EU roaming and coverage was excellent.
 
barryd said:
Tiekom seems to be the one most are going with for long term touring. I believe you can park it for £3 a month also when you are not using it. Ill maybe go that way when we go for six months next year. I like the idea that it finds the best provider. Vodafone used to do that when we had EU roaming and coverage was excellent.
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Yes, it is €3 a month to park it with Tiekom. Their customer service is really good, too.
 
It's worth pointing out that the only one who knows that the SIM is in a router is the user. Only over a period of time may a network provider deduce that the SIM is in a router because of the data usage pattern.

At least in the UK SIMs may be used in any device. There used to be a differentiation but it was banned quite some while ago.
 
INKA51 said:
Hi, we’re currently touring around Europe for 6 weeks and found a reasonable option for data roaming from Tesco Mobile. Their unlimited data roaming card costs £35/mth. Whilst it’s a contract, you can cancel it after one month if needed. Speeds seem fast and supports 5G. We’ve been using it to make wifi calls home via WhatsApp. There’s also a Spanish company, Tiecom, who do a data roaming card, ‘Only Data 400GB EU’. Whilst in Spain you get 400GB of data a month and the rest of Europe it’s 200GB. Costs £36/mth and can be cancelled after a month. It’ll automatically connect to the fastest 4G/5G in each country and has speeds of up to 150mbps. They speak fluent English, too.
tiekom.com

Data SIM

DATA SIM You asked for it now we have it Be Free With our 4G connection you will enjoy at an incredible speed. Whenever, wherever, and however you want it. Smart Networksconnect smart people When you don'tneed it,you can leavewithout anytypeof penalty.Don't worry about thetype of SIM. We have...
tiekom.com tiekom.com
Click to expand...
Tesco Mobile should be OK for 6 weeks. If considering more than 2 months, check https://www.tescomobile.com/content...eral/fair-use-and-home-from-home-policies.pdf article 2.4
 
Canalsman said:
It's worth pointing out that the only one who knows that the SIM is in a router is the user. Only over a period of time may a network provider deduce that the SIM is in a router because of the data usage pattern.

At least in the UK SIMs may be used in any device. There used to be a differentiation but it was banned quite some while ago.
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Nope! We have an O2 data only card and it detected the router immediately. It would find French providers but refused connection. We didn't try in a phone. Two years ago, we had a Tesco (again O2) in an old phone and it worked OK in France, when I put it in the router, it refused to connect. Back in the phone, it was OK again. Tech has moved on and they know what device you are using. They have had that capability for years.
 
We switched to Lebara yesterday [mainly because the Smarty signal on Three is appallingly bad, than for reasons of Roaming Allowances/Charges[. Lebars operates on the Vodafone network and the difference in phone call quality and internet signal is chalk and cheese. The bonus is that the Roaming Allownce is 30Gb per month in Europe, India & China although if you exceed you UK usage over a 120 day period, you will face a surcharge, so broadly speaking, it appears that if you buy a 30Gb package each 30 days [not month!], you could use 59Gb over 60 days in UK, and have 58.xxGb for Europe for 60 days

Won't get my mobile number transferred until tomorrow, so I'll start wading through the T&Cs fine detail later ...

Better than Smarty 12Gb in Europe and a better quality signal, so, at this early stage, I'm quite happy!

Steve
 
Rumour said:
Nope! We have an O2 data only card and it detected the router immediately. It would find French providers but refused connection. We didn't try in a phone. Two years ago, we had a Tesco (again O2) in an old phone and it worked OK in France, when I put it in the router, it refused to connect. Back in the phone, it was OK again. Tech has moved on and they know what device you are using. They have had that capability for years.
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I have to disagree.

From:

https://blog.talkhome.co.uk/technol...ard, also,call or text messaging capabilities.

Data Only SIM: A Brief Explanation​

A conventional mobile SIM card lets users make phone calls, send text messages, and use mobile data for internet connectivity. Whereas the data-only SIM card provides only the internet data. It means that with a data-only SIM, you cannot make regular phone calls and messages on any phone number. Still, you can use internet-operated messaging services like FaceTime, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Google Duo, etc., to call and text anywhere in the world.

The SIM is a dumb item. It cannot detect in what device it is placed. Nor can the device determine its behaviour from any of the SIM characteristics.

Only the network provider can determine how a SIM can function, and in the UK at least a phone SIM can be used in a data device such as a router, and a data SIM in a phone. The contract for the SIM determines how it may be used as explained above.

I have just put a Tesco phone SIM into a router, previously it was in a mifi device, and it's working fine.

As I said earlier the network provider may choose to restrict usage, for example by throttling back your connection, if the network provider detects excessive use such as might be expected when used in a router. This may be the result of clauses in the fair usage rules applicable.
 
Canalsman said:
I have to disagree.

From:

https://blog.talkhome.co.uk/technology/data-only-sim/#:~:text=A normal SIM card, also,call or text messaging capabilities.

Data Only SIM: A Brief Explanation​

A conventional mobile SIM card lets users make phone calls, send text messages, and use mobile data for internet connectivity. Whereas the data-only SIM card provides only the internet data. It means that with a data-only SIM, you cannot make regular phone calls and messages on any phone number. Still, you can use internet-operated messaging services like FaceTime, WhatsApp, Facebook Messenger, Skype, Google Duo, etc., to call and text anywhere in the world.

<snip>
Click to expand...
Looks more like https://www.really.com/post/what-is... mobile SIM card,messages to any phone number.
 
Just had this reply from Popit.

In line with our announcement on 23rd Sept 2024, please be advised that your EU data allowance for 100GB is now capped at 25GB. A copy of the announcement is also attached to the email.

However, since the new changes were announced, we have now partnered with an EU operator who are offering EU roaming SIM cards with no UK usage required and UK based support. So, this could work as a separate SIM to your current Popit SIM.

With the EU SIM, you'll also have the option to purchase a physical SIM or eSIM. The SIM will last for 28 days and in which case, you'll just purchase again through their app. Note that there is no Fair Usage so you don't need to log any UK usage and you can use all of your data in EU.

The prices are as listed below:

€49.99 100GB 5G Unlimited Europe Calls, 120 Minutes rest of world, 1000 SMS, Data Tethering allowed and unrestricted lasts 28 days (fair usage included)

€39.99 30GB 4G Unlimited Europe Calls, 120 Minutes rest of world, 1000 SMS, Data Tethering allowed and unrestricted lasts 14 Days (fair usage included)

€19.99 12GB 4G Unlimited Europe Calls, 30 Minutes rest of world, 200 SMS, Data Tethering allowed and unrestricted lasts 14 Days (fair usage included)

€4.99 1GB 4G, Calls not included, SMS not included lasts 7 Days (fair usage included)

All you need to do is click on this link to purchase your UK support (no charge). Once purchased, you'll be directed to complete your order with our EU partner.
 
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