Last updated on December 13, 2015
If you are looking for great 4G deals, then in this article we are going to tell you how to find your dream 4G contract. It is not as complicated as you might think; all you need to do is follow the steps below and you will find a 4G plan which is perfect for you!
- Know the Ins and Outs of 4G Deals
The first thing you need to understand is what exactly you are getting into. 4G deals are basically going to give you faster mobile internet speeds. This is very tempting, but there are a few concerns. You will need a 4G phone, plans are going to probably be more expensive than a regular 3G plan, and not everyone lives in an area covered by a 4G network.
We are going to address some of these concerns below, but you might want to take a few minutes to read more about 4G services here.
- Know Your Operator Options
Not every mobile operator is going to give you a 4G plan for your phone. You will have four options when choosing an operator: EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three. There are obviously some differences between these operators.
EE has the widest 4G coverage, so they are most likely to get you a plan which works. They also have great speeds, which is a big bonus. Plans with EE, however, are likely to be very expensive when compared to other operators.
Vodafone and O2 have very similar offerings. They both have 4G coverage in around fifteen towns and cities around the UK and their plans are very similar both in size and in price. There is not really much to choose from between these two operators.
Finally, Three has the newest UK 4G network, and they currently only cover four cities (London, Reading, Manchester and Birmingham). A 4G plan with Three, however, will cost you exactly the same as a 3G contract with the same calling plan, so there is a big advantage to choosing Three’s 4G contracts if you can get coverage.
- Know Your Coverage
If you want to have a 4G data plan you are going to need to make sure that you have 4G coverage in your area. If you live in a city you will probably have coverage with at least one operator, though outside of towns it can be more difficult to find 4G networks. Be aware that in the absence of a 4G network your phone will by default just switch to a slower 3G network, so you will be paying 4G prices for 3G speeds.
Each of the operators listed above will have a coverage map on their website. You can use these to determine whether or not the operator can provide you with 4G services. You can also go to OFCOM.com and find a map which compares all the operators.
- Know Your Phone Choices
Obviously, if you want to get a 4G plan you will need to have a phone which is 4G capable. It used to be that only top end, expensive phones could connect via 4G, but these days there are more and more budget options. If you already have a phone, or are planning on buying one, then you will need to make sure that it has 4G connectivity.
- Know the Difference Between Incentive and SIM Only
When you are signing your mobile contract you actually have a choice between two different kinds of contract. One of these is called an incentive contract and it will give you a 4G capable phone along with your calling plan, the other is a SIM only contract and this will just give you the 4G calling plan.
The monthly price for an incentive contract will be higher, but you are getting a phone. If you opt for SIM only you will need to buy a phone or already have one to use. You will need to decide which contract is right for you.
- Know Your Calling Plan Needs
The penultimate step in this process is deciding on what kind of calling plan you are going to need on your contract. No matter whether you choose an incentive or a SIM only option you will be given a calling plan with a monthly allotment of minutes, texts and data. You will need to decide how high this allotment should be.
There are some smaller calling plans available, but the majority of 4G calling plans are going to offer you at least unlimited calling minutes and unlimited text messages. Data allowances vary a little more. Remember that 4G speeds are fast, meaning you can use up a lot of data very quickly, so you might want to consider getting a larger data limit than you had on your old 3G contract.
- Bringing it All Together
If you have spent the time following all of the proceeding steps then you now have a lot of information on your hands which we need to bring together to find your dream 4G contract. You will need to first go online and find a good mobile tariff comparison website. There are plenty of choices out there, and you might wish to use more than one site to get a complete picture of your options.
Once you have found a good site, then you will need to define your search parameters to reflect what you are looking for. If you are looking for an incentive contract you may be asked to specify which phone you want, you should also be able to narrow down your search by operator and by the size of the calling plan you want. Do not forget to tick the 4G box if applicable.
You will then be given a list of plans which match your parameters, and hopefully your dream contract will be among them. It is always worth going through this process on more than one comparison site, just so that you can make sure you are getting a full overview of all your options.
That is all you need to do to find your dream 4G contract. Follow these simple steps and you will be using your new 4G mobile phone and contract in no time!
Phil Turner visited the various tariff comparison websites online in order to find the best 4G deals for his Internet mobile devices.
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