I've just joined the unlimited data SIM plan as I'm looking to buy a 4g router to use as a home broadband through tethering.I've plugged the SIM into my phone for now to test the connectivity, but the 4g seems inconsistent and is dropping out occasionally, leaving me with only H+. Hotspotting from my phone to my laptop is also looking inconsistent, with connection to the hotspot wifi dropping in and out. Looks like I'm getting a max of 15mbps download speed when it is actually able to stay connected.Customer support chat said there was congestion in my area and that was the reason for connectivity issues. They said engineers are aware and working on it.Question is, is this going to be a consistent problem? As if I'm planning on using the SIM for home broadband the poor connection is obviously unsuitable.

I think it may depend on the area you live in.For a long time three had the least 4G capacity of the main networks: 10MHz paired on 2100MHz(IMT Band 1) next to 3G + 15MHz paired on 1800MHz(DCS Band 3) + 5MHz paired on 800MHz(DD Band 20). This worked fine in less busy areas, but could become an issue in areas like central London.However, in recent years three have now acquired 20MHz Downlink on 1400MHz (L-Band 32) + 10MHz paired on 700MHz(Band 28) for 4G along with an incredible 140MHz of unpaired capacity for 5G.Not only have three acquired the spectrum, but they are putting new poles in the ground at such a rapid rate across the country, to support the new spectrum. In fact, I think three have the largest roll out of 700MHz spectrum for mobile, thanks to new antennas on their phase8 monopoles being rolled out since 2020. This frequency band really improves indoor coverage and often doesn't get a lot of attention. Probably you'll have upgraded three capacity near you eventually 🙂 Without revealing your exact location, where roughly do you live ? You check local council planning applications to see if any three masts are planned, or check on one.network for any telco activity in your area, clicking on them will reveal the company. Personally I am very happy with the performance of the three network in the past 18+ months, and at a point of leapfrogging some of the competition in some areas. I appreciate I may be privileged to live in an area where three have installed new masts though.Best Regards,Jonathan

Are you talking about smartdcc.co.uk?If so, then on this page "https://www.smartdcc.co.uk/our-smart-network/how-do-smart-meters-send-readings/" it says..."The communications hub transmits the data to an in-home display which shows how much energy is being used or sold back to the grid. The data is then transmitted from the home to a wide area network (made up of mobile phone or radio masts), and from these to the DCC servers."...which is not a mesh network, it's a WAN (wide area network). In a well functioning mesh network nodes can come and go as they please (much like in the Bitcoin network). Calls reroute around (collections of) nodes that drop out. That's not to say mesh is perfect. It's possible for the network to partition in to two or more isolated meshes. But with Musk and others filling our skys with satellites that should become less of a problem in future (hmm, jam tomorrow again!).Anyway, thanks for making me aware of DCC. Hadn't heard of them before now.

Have you checked for network faults Quin452?Do this online at https://smarty.co.uk/network-status-checker.

Initially I had good service but since the beginning of March[1], if not a few weeks before, it's crap. Voice and text are okay but data is very poor between 8 am and 7 pm. Often fails to load pages. When I query the network status, via https://www.three.co.uk/support/network_and_coverage/network_support, I'm told they're fixing the issue. I just wish they'd give some idea as to when it'll be fixed. Have been told if I want to know that I need t do more chasing up of SMARTY. To do that I have to be able to login to SMARTY which requires the login page to load! I think they're having a laugh. More SMERKY than SMARTY, I think.[1] Have posted about this on SMARTY.

Is congestion common on SMARTY 4g network?

15 Replies

jonnyphone
SMARTY Commentator
15-01-2023
I think it may depend on the area you live in.
For a long time three had the least 4G capacity of the main networks: 10MHz paired on 2100MHz(IMT Band 1) next to 3G + 15MHz paired on 1800MHz(DCS Band 3) + 5MHz paired on 800MHz(DD Band 20). This worked fine in less busy areas, but could become an issue in areas like central London.
However, in recent years three have now acquired 20MHz Downlink on 1400MHz (L-Band 32) + 10MHz paired on 700MHz(Band 28) for 4G along with an incredible 140MHz of unpaired capacity for 5G.
Not only have three acquired the spectrum, but they are putting new poles in the ground at such a rapid rate across the country, to support the new spectrum. In fact, I think three have the largest roll out of 700MHz spectrum for mobile, thanks to new antennas on their phase8 monopoles being rolled out since 2020. This frequency band really improves indoor coverage and often doesn't get a lot of attention.
Probably you'll have upgraded three capacity near you eventually 🙂 Without revealing your exact location, where roughly do you live ? You check local council planning applications to see if any three masts are planned, or check on one.network for any telco activity in your area, clicking on them will reveal the company.
Personally I am very happy with the performance of the three network in the past 18+ months, and at a point of leapfrogging some of the competition in some areas. I appreciate I may be privileged to live in an area where three have installed new masts though.
Best Regards,
Jonathan
- Aabbccddee
  SMARTY Pioneer
  11-07-2023
  Where do you get information like this? Id like to learn more about the rollout etc
SimonGuru
SMARTY Maverick
15-01-2023
Use a vpn
- RobertC_1221692
  SMARTY Pioneer
  15-01-2023
  How will useing a VPN help its the Internet connection that drops out, I have the same problem when useing my Sim card router.
fuzzy
SMARTY Teamster
15-03-2023
Initially I had good service but since the beginning of March[1], if not a few weeks before, it's crap. Voice and text are okay but data is very poor between 8 am and 7 pm. Often fails to load pages. When I query the network status, via https://www.three.co.uk/support/network_and_coverage/network_support, I'm told they're fixing the issue. I just wish they'd give some idea as to when it'll be fixed. Have been told if I want to know that I need t do more chasing up of SMARTY. To do that I have to be able to login to SMARTY which requires the login page to load! I think they're having a laugh. More SMERKY than SMARTY, I think.
[1] Have posted about this on SMARTY.
- Chalkychap
  SMARTY Trendsetter
  15-03-2023
  Sounds like a case of More Malarkey, Less SMARTY, fuzzy
  For at least the past 6-months, my area has similar message about working on the network. Three UK are in the process of turning off their 3G network now - works are scheduled for completion by end of 2024.
  Maybe things will improve in 2025?
  - fuzzy
    SMARTY Teamster
    15-03-2023
    I fear technological improvements might be evolving at a greater rate than they can roll out the infrastructure to support it. Thus we'll forever have the promise of jam tomorrow (actually it's all jammed up today).
    It's been pretty bad today, and it's raining.
SimonCar_165798
SMARTY Maverick
09-03-2023
That response seems very generic, but using VPN does work sometimes as it changes information they see , their policy on throttling is questionable.
Quin452
SMARTY Commentator
10-03-2023
I'm given "congestion" as an excuse a lot with problems in my area. I don't even know it it's true, as it has been happening for months.
Even COVID was given as an excuse, and if you knew my area, you'd find that hard to believe.
- Chalkychap
  SMARTY Trendsetter
  13-03-2023
  Have you checked for network faults Quin452?
  Do this online at https://smarty.co.uk/network-status-checker.
- MSF
  SMARTY Guru
  13-03-2023
  Is there no COVID there? Do you live in Wuhan?😱

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Is congestion common on SMARTY 4g network?

15 Replies

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