O2 vs Three Speed Test 2012

[Hands0n]

I have recently posted a YouTube video of a Speedtest that I ran comparing the O2 and Three network from my home.

The transmitter masts for both networks are equally distant from the location where this test was performed, give or take a few metres. Both masts are visible from the study desk, a bay window opens up onto line of sight of both masts, the Three mast may be at a slight disadvantage being slightly obscured by a brick wall within which the window is mounted.

According to O2's coverage checker the local mast is 3G900 and 3G2100. Of course, Three's network is exclusively 3G2100.

The phones used were a Samsung Galaxy S II with a giffgaff SIM (an O2-owned MVNO of the O2 network). I used a Samsung Galaxy Nexus for the Three SIM. Both devices are near identical in terms of capability and performance. Both are running Android 4.0.4.

This is as near as possible an equal control in terms of location and hardware. So any differences perceived, witnessed or measured must be relative to the wireless technology, the back haul and the core network of the network operator.

Please take a look at the video and comment below: http://youtu.be/PqCWUi5o3Rg (HD Version --> http://youtu.be/PqCWUi5o3Rg?hd=1 )

[Sajjad Rahman]

Interesting to see the comparison. Hope this answer helps.

[Ben]

Three's network is the go-to network for mobile broadband and for those with sufficient coverage where they live/work/go out. These results just make that even more abundantly clear. The speeds achievable are fantastic and Three must be congratulated for focussing so much on having a great network for data.

Unfortunately I rarely get such strong Three signal :( But the iPad 2 with WiFi and 3G on Three does make for a great experience; it's not like I need cellular service deep inside buildings given that the iPad doesn't use any service except data.

A phone is another matter; even with iMessage, phones do need cellular service even when they're on WiFi in order to receive calls and regular texts. Until that hurdle is overcome, O2 is going to be a better solution for me on a phone. Plus I get 3G900 deep within Canterbury buildings, something I'm absolutely loving.

But for those headline speeds, Three, Three, Three.

[ferret1979_1]

Three's network is the go-to network for mobile broadband and for those with sufficient coverage where they live/work/go out. These results just make that even more abundantly clear. The speeds achievable are fantastic and Three must be congratulated for focussing so much on having a great network for data.

Unfortunately I rarely get such strong Three signal :( But the iPad 2 with WiFi and 3G on Three does make for a great experience; it's not like I need cellular service deep inside buildings given that the iPad doesn't use any service except data.

A phone is another matter; even with iMessage, phones do need cellular service even when they're on WiFi in order to receive calls and regular texts. Until that hurdle is overcome, O2 is going to be a better solution for me on a phone. Plus I get 3G900 deep within Canterbury buildings, something I'm absolutely loving.

But for those headline speeds, Three, Three, Three.

I'm with O2 for my iPhone, and I like the fact that I don't seem to have a problem getting some sort of service nearly all the time.

Data is important to me, but voice is equally or more so.

As someone who is slightly disabled, its good to have mobile coverage when in a shopping centre, if I need to get hold of someone else who is with me. (normally parents who are on O2 as well).

Though my service from O2 is problematic, (will explain in another thread).

I've just taken out a T-Mobile Full Monty sim, and coverage whilst travelling through east sussex was good with 3G signal most of the way.

I've just now got to decide whats best. Better data/lower signal strength over a reliable ish signal all the time on O2.

[Ben]

I don't think I could do T-Mobile. It's an Everything Everywhere thing... I couldn't go back to Orange either. Give it a couple of years until LTE is rolled out and I'll take a fresh look at who has made the investments and who hasn't ;)

But yes, got to do what works best for you. I'm becoming a vehement supporter of mobile network disloyalty!

[Wilt]

Indeed, Orange (and therefore EE) is a no-go for me. I had a sim-only contract with them last year and quite often even loading web pages was impossible in 3G. And I've not even mentioned the text message delays and calls going straight to voicemail.

[Hands0n]

But yes, got to do what works best for you. I'm becoming a vehement supporter of mobile network disloyalty!

Oh hell to the yeah :) There is absolutely no place at all for loyalty to any mobile network operator. That, in my opinion, is a fools errand. They are all service providers and it is strictly my own "house rule" to maintain a conscious disloyalty. They win my custom entirely on merit. And the same goes for any advice that I pass on.

Orange lost it for me ages ago, and that extremely annoying "calls going straight to voicemail" issue has been with them for decades, and yet they've not fixed it. Surely something very fundamentally wrong within their network. I find it incredible that it persists in 2012. That, if nothing else, and there is plenty else, disbars Orange from my list of credible suppliers. Their joining up with T-Mobile to form EE merely removes T-Mobile from that same list, although I do currently have a dirt cheap T-Mobile 12 month contract (11 months to go) courtesy of Quidco that basically works out at £3.50/mth.

So, for me, that leaves only O2, Vodafone and Three as MNOs that I will part with my cash for. Neither of them give a 100% quality service, and they are all three blighted by varying degrees of customer service, the Twitter feeds are a testimony to that. But being predominantly a data user it places O2 way down the list of remaining three because of their demonstrable and measurable weaknesses in the areas that I live, work and play in. Even with 3G900 and a mast 200m away their network speed falls significantly below that of Vodafone and Three. O2's coverage is patchy, 2G almost everywhere, 3G much much more so.

[Ben]

Indeed, Orange (and therefore EE) is a no-go for me. I had a sim-only contract with them last year and quite often even loading web pages was impossible in 3G. And I've not even mentioned the text message delays and calls going straight to voicemail.
Calls going to voicemail is STILL happening? Wow, that's something that plagued me too before I left them, but we're talking years ago now. Shocking.

[solo12002]

" Calls going to voicemail is STILL happening? Wow, that's something that plagued me too before I left them, but we're talking years ago now. Shocking. " Ay but just a question or thought from me. Is it a way of the network making more money??

Im not sure if voicemail is free on Orange if not surely it costs you to get the voice mail

[Wilt]

Calls going to voicemail is STILL happening? Wow, that's something that plagued me too before I left them, but we're talking years ago now. Shocking.

I had a sim-only contract with them from Nov 2010 - July 2011 and was plagued with calls going to voicemail throughout. Well, I didn't have voicemail on so callers were getting a not available message. Seemed worse on 3G than 2G. It wasn't a local issue, it happened both at uni and at home - the entire network just seemed to collapse at peak times.

[Ben]

Seemed worse on 3G than 2G. It wasn't a local issue
Yeah, started happening to me when I got my first 3G phone on Orange (SE Z1010) and never stopped.