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4G’s beginning to look like decent value, as competition hots up with the arrival of challengers to EE’s stranglehold on superfast data. Vodafone has just announced it’s extending its 4G bonus deal into the New Year, with customers who sign up for a 4G contract before the end of January receiving unlimited data for three months, and an extra 4GB per month until their contract’s up.
The offer was originally due to end this week, and its extension comes on the same day EE begins offering its first 4G pay as you go deals, from £19 per month.
Voda’s deals start at £26 per month for a SIM card only, £34 per month for a two-year deal with a phone thrown in, and £52 per month for a one-year contract with a free blower.
So for £26 per month, you’ll get unlimited data for the first three months, and 6GB of data every month after that. You do have to sign up for a year, though, and provide your own 4G-compatible phone. For heavy data users, I reckon that’s a pretty good deal.
Vodafone has a pretty good sweetener too — you get six months of free Spotify or Sky Sports, worth up to £60. Unlimited calls and texts are chucked in too.
The main problem with Vodafone’s 4G — and every network that isn’t EE — is coverage. Red-flavoured 4G is only available in London, Birmingham, Coventry, Leicester, Nottingham and Sheffield, with Glasgow, Liverpool and Manchester added by the end of the month. EE, by comparison, now covers 131 towns and cities, and has faster speeds.
If you’re willing to wait a few months, Three is launching 4G by the end of the year (again, only in four cities) and promises it’ll cost the same as its current 3G deals, including ones with unlimited data all year round. No other network has yet unveiled any unlimited data plans.
How do you feel about 4G? Have any of the networks convinced you to splash out extra yet? Zoom down to the comments section and let me know, or head to our one-paced Facebook page.