Why I No Longer Choose a Mobile Network Provider Based on Price
1 min read
Summary
For a long time, the author thought that budget mobile network providers and their mainstream competitors were much the same, but this changed when they encountered several issues.
Cheaper providers offer limited SMS and call allowances, which can be problematic when different apps are not available or when calling internationally.
Such providers usually rent bandwidth, which tends to offer a slower connection than mainstream providers, particularly when travelling abroad.
It can also be difficult to receive short code texts for two-factor authentication (2FA) when using cheaper providers, as encountered by the author when they couldn’t access their PayPal account.
Finally, cheaper providers tend to have inadequate coverage in other countries, particularly outside of the EU/EEA.
While budget providers are good for students or those with limited usage, mainstream providers are worthwhile if users require more flexibility.
