O2 EU Roaming versus, Vodafone, Three, Asda, BT and Tesco. Dublin 13th July 2017

[darrengf]

As you know one of my bug bearers with O2 is currently there Roaming in the EU which we all know that they throttle.

On the 15th June 2017, EU made changes that all the EU networks had to offer cross roaming free of charge, so you can use your own allowance in one of the Roaming EU countries.

Now I wanted to give it a Month to settle in before I did any testing to ensure that every network was complaint and that all the issues were sorted out.

So, on the 13th July, I went on a day visit to Dublin with 2 of my friends and a few Devices / Sim cards from different UK networks to do some testing and obviously a bit of eating and drinking too.

Now the test was not totally about speed, but about what was on offer from each network and how they all compared.

I took the following with me

O2 Contract                        iPhone 7+ Cat 9 Device Capable of 450Mbps DL

O2 PAYG                            iPhone 6+ Cat 6 Device Capable of 300Mbps DL

Three Contract                    iPhone 6 Cat 4 Device Capable of 150Mbps DL

Vodafone Contract             WileyFox Swift 2 Cat 4 Capable of 150Mpbs DL (Dual Sim Phone)

Tesco PAYG                      Wileyfox Swift 2 Cat 4 Capable of 150Mbps DL (Dual Sim Phone)

BT Mobile Contract            Wileyfox Swift 1 Cat 4 Capable of 150Mbps DL (Dual Sim Phone)

Asda PAYG                       Wileyfox Swift 1 Cat 4 Capable of 150Mbps DL (Dual Sim Phone)

1st Test Manchester Airport Terminal 3 (7AM) (Main networks only tested)

O2 Contract        4G Signal              8.52Mbps Down, 7.19Mbps Up

Three Contact     3G Signal              Data did not work for 2 Hours being in airport

Vodafone            4G Signal              15.96Mbps Down, 10.44Mbps up

BT Mobile           4G Signal              4.81Mbps Down, 8.54Mbps up

Winner at Airport:                           Vodafone,           2nd O2 Contract

2nd Test Dublin Airport Terminal 1 (9AM) (Only had time to run Main Network Tests)

O2 Contract        3G Only                0.25Mbps Down, 0.30Mbps Up

Three                  3G Only                7.46Mbps Down, 1.07Mbps Up

Vodafone            3G                        6.07Mbps Down, 3.93Mbps Up

BT Mobile           3G                        3.16Mbps Down, 1.64 Up

Winner at Dublin Airport:                Three,                   2nd Vodafone

3rd Test Centre of Dublin O’Connell Street (10.30AM)

O2 Contract        3G Only                 0.49Mbps Down, 0.58Mbps Up

O2 PAYG            3G Only                1.84Mbps Down, 0.44Mbps Up

Three                  3G Only                7.46Mbps Down, 1.07Mbps Up

Vodafone            4G                        26.30Mbps Down, 11.01Mbps Up

Tesco PAYG      3G Only                 2.09Mbps Down, 1.12Mbps Up

BT Mobile           3G                         4.59Mbps Down, 1.21Mbps Up

Asda Mobile       3G                         3.89Mbps Down, 0.46Mbps Up

Winner on O’Connell Street:           Vodafone,          2nd Three

4Th Test was done in the ILAC Shopping Centre in Dublin Centre (12 Noon)

O2 Contract        3G Only                0.50Mbps Down, 0.49Mbps Up

O2 PAYG            3G Only                4.44Mbps Down, 1.43Mbps Up

Three                  3G Only                0.86Mbps Down, 0.41Mbps Up

Vodafone            4G                         43.73Mbps Down, 26.74Mbps Up

Tesco PAYG       3G Only                2.25Mbps Down, 0.83Mbps Up

BT Mobile           4G                         13.56Mbps Down, 23.91Mbps Up

Asda Mobile       4G                          26.68Mbps Down, 21.70Mbps Up

Winner in ILAN Centre:                   Vodafone,          2nd Place Asda

5th Test was done in Burger King Centre of Dublin (2.40PM)

O2 Contract        3G Only                0.51Mbps Down, 1.04Mbps Up

O2 PAYG            3G Only                0.91Mbps Down, 0.18Mbps Up

Three                  3G Only                7.41Mbps Down, 0.35Mbps Up

Vodafone            4G                        16.66Mbps Down, 14.45Mbps Up

Tesco PAYG      3G Only                5.65Mbps Down, 0.64Mbps Up

BT Mobile           3G                        19.05Mbps Down, 3.53Mbps Up

Asda Mobile       3G                         9.16Mbps Down, 0.27Mbps Up

Winner in ILAN Centre:                  BT Mobile (3G), 2nd Place Vodafone (4G)

6th Test was done on the River Bank in Dublin Centre. Only 3 Tests ran (4.20PM)

O2 Contract        3G Only                0.57Mbps Down, 0.42Mbps Up

Three                  3G Only                0.52Mbps Down, 0.29Mbps Up

Vodafone            4G                        121.07 Down, 26.95 Up

Winner:                Vodafone, I’m not even awarding a 2nd Place as no network deserved it.

7th Place Was done at International Banking Centre Dublin (5.40PM)

O2 Contract          3G Only                 0.58Mbps Down, 1.01Mbps Up

O2 PAYG              3G Only                6.76Mbps Down, 1.10Mbps Up

Three                    3G Only                0.30Mbps Down, 0.35Mbps Up

Vodafone              3G                         2.70Mbps Down, 3.03Mbps Up

Tesco PAYG        3G Only                 1.46Mbps Down, 0.96Mbps Up

BT Mobile             4G                         1.16Mbps Down, 10.40Mbps Up

Asda Mobile         3G                         1.82Mbps Down, 0.23Mbps Up

Winner Int Bank Centre:                      O2 PAYG,            2nd Place Vodafone

8th and Final Test Dublin Airport at Gate waiting to Board Aircraft (8PM)

O2 Contract         3G Only                0.57Mbps Down, 0.56Mbps Up

O2 PAYG             3G Only                3.90Mbps Down, 1.12Mbps Up

Three                    3G Only                0.42Mbps Down, 0.35Mbps Up

Vodafone              4G                         26.22Mbps Down, 2.95Mbps Up

Tesco PAYG        3G Only                 0.08Mbps Down, 0.54Mbps Up

BT Mobile             3G                         1.72Mbps Down, 0.34Mbps Up

Asda Mobile         3G                          0.23Mbps Down, 00.07Mbps Up

Winner in ILAN Centre:                      Vodafone,          2nd Place O2 PAYG Just

Findings

O2 Contract is throttled beyond believe. You could see the phone trying its hardest and on many occasions starting the speed test I was getting 10+ Mbps, however throttling kicked in and it went straight to 0.50 mostly. I’m appalled that it’s still throttled badly and its shocking that 4G is still not available. What I can tell you though is that 4G is trying to Activate on O2, but it forces your phone back to 3G. before it would say Network Failure, now it says Network Registered, but would revert to 3G. so O2 need to just put a tick in a box, unlock 4G please and also remove the blasting throttling that your killing us with. Also, O2 Contract is throttled, but not PAYG, what is wrong with O2.

O2 PAYG was not throttled as I could see and speeds varied over Dublin. The main problem is that it would not clamp onto 4G no matter how hard I tried, I was able to connect to Metor and Three, however there wasn’t much difference in them both, the phone would always revert back to Three as its preferred network.

Three Contract, Wow this was all over the place, no data in Manchester and although it didn’t look throttled in Dublin itself, speeds were very hit and miss. The main problem is that Three latches onto its home Three IE network and just doesn’t really let go, Three IE seems somewhat hit and miss and I think that most of the masts are just congested.

BT Mobile, put in a good performance but couldn’t clamp onto 4G much, which was the same as Asda Mobile. The main reason is there network of choice which again is Three IE. Data rates were all over the place. Lots of places were just congested, but no data restrictions were in place for what I could see

Asda Mobile were the same as BT Mobile. No restrictions but struggled on the preferred network which again was Three IE. Shame really as was impressed that a Supermarket PAYG got 4G overseas.

Tesco’s was just hampered with the lack of no 4G. It was never no clear winner, but there wasn’t a restriction in place which is good for a Supermarket Network.

Clear Winner has to be Vodafone. No matter how you look at it, it just won from the word go. It was pretty solid all over on 4G, just reverted to 3G in shops etc, but the 121Mbps download on 4G just shows that they have truly meant what they said and no restrictions at all. The choice of network was Vodafone IE which clearly showed that they have spent money in the network in the city and I’ve no doubt that If the sim card was in my iPhone 7+, the data would have been much higher

Position                UK Network           3G/4G in EU        EU Network used 

1st Place               Vodafone          (4G and 3G)     (Vodafone IE)

2nd Place              BT Mobile           (4G and 3G)      (Three IE and Metor)

3rd Place               Asda                   (4G and 3G)      (Three IE and Metor)

4th Place               O2 PAYG            (3G Only)          (Three IE and Metor)

5th Place               Three                  (3G Only)           (Three IE) (No Data in MCR Airport Data all over place)

6th Place               O2 Contract        (3G Only)           (Three IE and Metor) (Throttled)

I really do hope you enjoyed reading this. O2 Please please please, enable 4G roaming and stop Throttling, its making you look like cheap skates and bad as a network for over seas.

And what are you throttling only O2 Contract customers?

[darrengf]

As I've always stated,  I just always wanted to know the truth but I wanted to always let you know what I've had from my official complaint since the beginning.

I first wrote to O2 and was advised before it all went wrong, that o2 are not responsible for any roaming network speeds etc.

when the news broke and O2 admitted  it, I asked them to overturn their ruiling and re respond back to me.

After 3 weeks of requesting and after the 3rd email me requesting a response. I got a response that was sent to the press and what twitter advised its customers regarding the un president Demand.  

I wrote back and advised that that you first told me that there was no issue which was incorrect and now you have given me a standard insulting response. I was very hurt and that you first didn't listen nor beleive me etc.

So today I've finally received the last communication I will get from O2 complaints regarding this as they have now referred me to speak to Ofcom as they will no longer deal with me.

Response was the same. 

But this time it says this This is our Final Position and it's a Deadlock letter.

O2 have said that roaming has surpassed all expectations and that they are looking into having it resolved in the next few weeks. We value you as our customer and we are doing our best to keep customers updated.

there is a little bit more, but let's just say the letter pretty much ended there and that's it.

So there you go.

I have no Mallace with o2 or any of their Customer care team,  you can see that this is coming from above in Telefonica.

Something is now going on with O2 Germany and I'm totally lost in everything that is going on.

Im disappointed in it all I won't lie and sorry about what's happened.

What will happen now is unsure, What's going off in O2/Telefonica, again I don't know.

If O2 had come clean or said were having issues etc, this would have never happened.

I think you all know where I stand on this.  I Really do Love the O2 Forum and at present I really feel for the team that run this as I'm sure there in similar boat to what we are.  

I really do hope O2 come good and hopefully see what's happening.

But I just wanted to let you know what the final answer was to the Jigsaw

[adamtemp64]

@darrengf Off to the communications ombudsman as you have the deadlock letter 

[Unknown_M]

@darrengf it's far from the final piece of the jigsaw, you now have to take this to the communications ombudsman and ofcom if you like however I don't know what ofcom can or will do on an individual basis.

The comm ombudsman will ask to be supplied with as much info as possible, which now you aren't short of. They will contact o2 and likely given them grace period before starting a full investigation into your calm.

I did it with the red network and they failed to even respond back, naturally it was ruled in my favour.

Please if you have the energy, take this further as you have the proof of ill practice, the letter from the EU, the legal challenge in Germany etc... etc... and all at no cost to yourself. O2 will be charged the cost of the investigation.

Please keep us all informed. You can help change it for everyone (no pressure) 😉

[jonsie]

@darrengf

It's a sole crusade at the moment unless others go the whole way like yourself. Unfortunately I don't roam in Europe recently and won't be able to for the foreseeable future. Therefore, personally, I have no experience of roaming or any factual data. 

But remember, you have the full support of everyone here and anything we can do to help you, just ask. Please take this to Ofcom, it would be such a shame to stop now when you have come so far. 

[blissgirl]

Ditto what @jonise says

[darrengf]

Good afternoon all. Thank you for your constant support.

Don't worry I don't go away that easy. I have already been speaking to Ofcom as I didn't need a Deadlock letter at the time of me speak to the EU commission.

I would like to give you Ofcom response from part of the letter.

"While I can certainly appreciate how frustrating this is for you, I should explain that mobile broadband speeds are currently unregulated. Service providers are under no regulatory obligation to offer any data roaming at all and the decision to do so is for each provider concerned.

After looking in to this further, I felt it may be of interest for you to know that O2 has explained the throttling of data is a temporary measure put in place to protect the service experience for customers roaming in the EU since 15 June 2015. These controls are due to be removed within the coming weeks.

Just to let you know that I have responded back to them and also forwarded it to EU commission as they Ofcom have contradicted everything that They say.

[Anonymous]

Arrived at our hotel in Los Alcazares late last night. Went out on the balcony and did a quick speed test.

Locked on to 4G instantly .... 35mbps down and strangely 51mbps up. So it appears Vodafone roaming is working as normal with no restrictions whatsoever.

My wife is on Tesco Mobile and her data is working well too.

I'd be pretty peed off if I were an O2 contract customer. Saying that the main reason I went with VF is that Three used to pull the same stunt and most of the time the roaming data service was unusable.

[Unknown_M]

@Anonymous I got quickly excited until you spoilt with 4G and Vodafone in the same sentence😂

[viridis]

---

@darrengf wrote:
Good afternoon all. Thank you for your constant support.

Don't worry I don't go away that easy. I have already been speaking to Ofcom as I didn't need a Deadlock letter at the time of me speak to the EU commission.

I would like to give you Ofcom response from part of the letter.

"blah blah blah, cover up cover up cover up, blah blah...I felt it may be of interest for you to know that O2 has explained the throttling of data is a temporary measure put in place to protect the service experience for customers roaming in the EU since 15 June 2015. Blah blah.

---

15th of June.?

The literal day of EU roaming charges dropping.

So they say they introduced these throttles due to unprecedented use... And introduced them on the actual day, before any unprecedented use could actually take place.

So where was the unprecedented use?

Am I missing something there?

[iphone4sir]

These measures have been in place for 2 years? And they would have kept it up if it wasn't for Them being rumbled