Mobile Phones and Network Providers

Mobile Phones and Network Providers

Our phones are our lifelines and our connection to loved ones back home. Staying in contact has never been easier and more affordable than now, so with that said, how can you stay connected while studying abroad in the UK?

Almost all phones can be used in the UK, you just need to check whether your phone is locked or unlocked. If your phone is locked, you can go to your phone store or service provider and ask them to unlock it for you. This can usually be done free of charge or for a small fee. If your phone is unlocked, all you have to do is put in a British sim card and you are good to go.

There is fierce competition between British network providers to attract international students. This gives you the luxury of being picky and choosing the right deal for you. You have two main options: a contract sim card and a pay as you go sim card.

Contract sim card (also known as sim only)

This means that you will be given a free SIM card and be charged a monthly rate, for example £10 per month for 8GB of data with unlimited minutes and texts per month. The more you pay, the more you’ll get per month. Some contracts will lock you into a 12-month contract whereas others will be on a monthly basis, giving you the opportunity to cancel it every month. Make sure you check before signing up.

Almost everyone uses internet to make calls. However, the GP, NHS and other government services calls will use your minutes.

Pay as you go sim

This is a great option for students who won’t be using their phone on a frequent basis. These deals will also usually include internet. You will need to manually add credit on your phone to continue using data, making calls and sending texts.

Main UK providers

• Three
• 02
• Giffgaff
• Vodafone
• EE

Most of these providers can send you a UK sim card prior to your arrival in the UK. This means that you will be ready to roll when your plane lands!

To see which mobile network provider is the best for your area, go to here and enter your postcode.