01-09-2014 23:20 - edited 01-09-2014 23:24
01-09-2014 23:20 - edited 01-09-2014 23:24
So I thought I would do a new Review on the new O2 travel when I went to Belgium, France and Netherlands last week.
When I first saw that O2 had removed the 15mb allowance for Europe, I was really excited and thought I’m now able to use my phone much better over in the EU.
However I have to be honest and say I was extremely disappointed to say the least. Infact I was shocked how badly O2 have got it.
So I will explain. £1.99 for unlimited Data (I’m on contract) per day is great value for money. I understand that after 100mb further restrictions apply and that speed restrictions are in place when you are in the EU from the word dot. However this is where the problem lies, the restrictions are that bad and I really dread to think what it’s like when you hit 100mb of Data, because I couldn’t get near it. Not even after Hours and Hours of use.
These are the speeds I was getting, No mater what time of day or Network on. I know the networks shown were just in Belgium, However I can tell you that in France it was the same and the Netherlands failed to work at all it was that bad.
So for Example.
Send or Receive Pictures over iMessage would take 10-15 Mins.
Using Twitter, would take 10-20 seconds per image to view, and just refused to load some altogether.
Youtube or Vine Videos, didn’t work at all
Apple Maps would load, However Google Maps couldn’t keep up with Data and just timed out, or showed blank screen with a Moving Dot.
Face Time, did work for a couple of seconds, but on many occasions wouldn’t even connect, Face Time audio did connect once, and then failed.
Using the internet to browse was painfully slow, or just didn’t work at all. Searching on Google would take average 5-15 seconds to load a search page.
Sending normal MMS and being charged 40p (Like lightning)
1st day I managed 63.08Mb, however this is with charging my iPhone up twice and using it most of the day
2nd day I managed 68.11Mb. All Day usage. Again had to charge iPhone up at the end
3rd day I managed 69.88 Mb. Again All Day usage and iPhone had to be charged.
The Reason for the phone going flat was that sending any pics over iMessage took that long it just drained the phone because of the speed, also using the general internet again drained the phone.
I was in Europe for longer than 3 days, but after the 3rd day, I couldn’t cope with it anymore, so I put my EE PAYG sim in and paid £5 per 100mb per day. Cost me more but the speeds were normal 3G speeds and in France I got 4G Speeds. I also never had to charge the phone once during the day as everything worked great.
So this was the average speeds I got with my EE PAYG sim in Belgium, France was much faster at 20Mb + on 4G
So O2 lost out because of their ridicules speed restraints. whoever decided the speed restrications needs to spend time in EU and use them like I did. I totally understand restricting it after 100Mb, or even restricting it to 1Mbps download for first 100Mbs, but please, let me get there in the first place. I can’t fault O2 for O2 travel, it’s just a shame it’s that restricted it’s not useable any more.
I wonder if this what the EU had in mind? Looks great on Paper, just in real life is useless!
Something that was so good has been made so bad to use
I know people will be saying, well you used 60+ Mb each day, Yes I dont disagree with that, but this is from 8am to 11pm of use on 2 days and on 1 day it was even later. I dont mind paying for any Service, But please please let me able to use it for a little before you put restrictions in place.
on 31-08-2015 22:49
on 31-08-2015 22:49
I don't travel round Spain...I am in the Malaga region (Costa del Sol) so I can only speak for that area.
Wifi is everywhere...hotels, bars, restaurants and shops. Even in theme, aqua and nature parks. These places know they won't get customers if they don't provide free wifi...
Add to that the WiFi I have installed in my apartment costs me £10 a month and is as good as I have at home.
No problem running 4 phones, 3 laptops and 2 tablets during our family break in July...
.
Veritas Numquam Perit
on 31-08-2015 22:56
on 31-08-2015 22:56
@Cleoriff Sounds like your all sorted where you are. Probably there is that much wifi that no one uses the networks, so when you get on its like. Oh a customer full speed ahead lol
on 31-08-2015 23:07
on 31-08-2015 23:07
@darrengf wrote:@Cleoriff Sounds like your all sorted where you are. Probably there is that much wifi that no one uses the networks, so when you get on its like. Oh a customer full speed ahead lol
Yes...that could be it.... "Oh look...someone wants to use the network...what a shock'
Veritas Numquam Perit