5G Mobile Broadband

[Bogus Dave]

Hi, just hoping someone knowledgable can explain some stuff to me

Where I live the only wired connection I can get is the old stuff, which isn’t suitable for my needs. For the last 5 years we’ve been connected to the relish (three) network, which I believe runs off a 5G mast about a mile or so away as the crow flys. This comes from an antennae on my roof down to a router in my living room. I currently get around 90-100 mbps download, which is fine

Three are turning off this service at the end of May. They’ve offered me a 5G Mifi device, but say I can’t get 5G broadband where I live. I don’t know why, as it’s what’s coming over the air right now

My mobile network is Tesco. I was under the impression Tesco run on the o2 network. O2 say I have no 5G availability in my home. I do - speed tests of 200mbps download speed on 5G from my bedroom. Will this be pulling from the Three operated mast that is about a mile away?

If I can get strong 5G coverage on my Tesco phone, and the nearest 5G mast is operated by three, am I reasonable to expect similar speed with a three mifi device?? And is there a logical reason they can offer me a 5G Mifi device but not 5G home broadband?

Thank you and love you xoxo

[Batch]

Well firstly wiki is actually a good source of MVNO -> real network mapping. Tesco are indeed users of O2.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_mobile_virtual_network_operators_in_the_United_Kingdom

Three: Why 5G MiFi and not 5G broadband. Who knows.
  - Are the speed guarantees (QoS) lower.
  - Are there further restrictions on who can tether?
Suspect its either down to marketing or because they are dicking around with cell sites/powers meaning they can no longer meet the minimum service levels that the broadband offering provides - don't know for sure.

With Tesco/O2 that's an interesting one. Do you live in the sticks? I'd understand it if O2 said yes and Tesco said no (because O2 were restricting them). There is a shared mast scheme (or at least *was*), so it is conceivable you are on a shared base-station but its going to be location dependant:

https://www.three.co.uk/blog/the-shared-rural-network#:~:text=We%27re%20working%20together%20with,to%20be%20completed%20by%202024.

So I've not been too helpful. Sorry as its guesswork.

Three's mifi devices - check them out. They look battery powered. Can they run off mains?
Also, the antennae on the roof should provide a far better signal than a mifi device in your house - so you may want to try before committing

[Simon Pieman]

Think you live near me as I saw you outside the local co-op the other day. If it's East Wichel there is a monopoly on the fibre network but you should be able to get it.

Look at Seethelight or another Open Fibre Network reseller.

[Bogus Dave]

Thanks Batch - north Wroughton, so not exactly isolation (although based on the locals you might not think that). Signal was always a bit shit though, and it’s only since the 5G mast was turned on that it’s improved.

It’s annoying, because Three do have an outside 5G broadband service, which is effectively what I have now - but they say I can’t get it because I don’t have 5G in the area, despite provably so. Their customer service is shite and all

Think you live near me as I saw you outside the local co-op the other day. If it's East Wichel there is a monopoly on the fibre network but you should be able to get it.

Look at Seethelight or another Open Fibre Network reseller.

Haha, I thought it was you but was wrestling with a three year old at the time. I’m on the other side of the bridge, and no fibre where I live annoyingly.

[Simon Pieman]

Thanks Batch - north Wroughton, so not exactly isolation (although based on the locals you might not think that). Signal was always a bit shit though, and it’s only since the 5G mast was turned on that it’s improved.

It’s annoying, because Three do have an outside 5G broadband service, which is effectively what I have now - but they say I can’t get it because I don’t have 5G in the area, despite provably so. Their customer service is shite and all

Haha, I thought it was you but was wrestling with a three year old at the time. I’m on the other side of the bridge, and no fibre where I live annoyingly.

Yeah I left you to it as I saw you had your hands full!