BT returns to mobile market with launch of 4G SIM-only deals

BT Mobile launches with 4G data, minutes and texts from as little as £5 a month.

BT has taken its first step in its comeback to the mobile market with the launch of a new range of 4G SIM-only tariffs.

The firm will piggyback off EE’s network – the largest 4G network in the UK – ahead of its £12.5 billion takeover of the firm to offer the new service.

BT was one of the first entrants into mobile in the UK with BT Cellnet which it eventually spun off and rebranded as O2. It sold the company to Telefonica in 2005 for £18 billion.

As part of BT’s new strategy to dominate the ‘quad play’ market (bundles including TV, home phone, broadband and mobile) BT Broadband customers will get access to the best deals with discounts of up to 50% compared to non-BT customers.

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The deals

The BT Mobile SIM-only ‘bring your own phone’ deals are available on a 12-month contract and there are three to choose from.

On top of the data, minutes and texts on offer all BT Mobile customers will get access to BT Sport for free via the BT Sport App to enjoy live and exclusive Barclays Premier League football matches. Users will also get access to BT’s network of five million Wi-Fi hotspots.

Each BT Broadband account holder can have up to five mobile plans at the discounted rates on a single bill, up to a total of ten per household.

[SPOTLIGHT]And for peace of mind users can cap monthly spend to avoid bill shock, set up parental controls and will have the freedom to move between plans without taking out a new contract even if it’s a cheaper deal.

To get the most from BT's deals you need to have a handset set up for 4G mobile data. BT is offering BT Broadband customers £50 off a new 4G handset to coincide with the launchwhich means you could get a new device from £99.

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How BT Mobile compares

Only a handful of providers offer 4G tariffs.

At the moment Vodafone, EE, O2 and Three as well as Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) giffgaff and Tesco Mobile (which use O2’s network) and now BT Mobile (using EE’s network) offer the deals.

You can check out how all 4G SIM-only deals compare in: The Cheapest 4G SIM-only mobile deals, but the table below shows how the providers' cheapest 12-month SIM-only deals stack up.

*Price for BT Broadband customers. £10 per month for non-BT Broadband customers

giffgaff doesn’t offer 12-month SIM-only deals

As you can see BT Mobile now offers the cheapest 4G SIM-only deal on a 12-month contract, but only if you’re a BT Broadband customer. Non-BT broadband customers can get a cheaper deal from Three.

When it comes to BT’s ‘quad play’ competitors, Virgin Media and Talk Talk, BT Mobile has the edge as it offers 4G data at a bargain price.

Compare 4G tariffs with Recombu

Switching to a SIM-only deal

Dominc Baliszewski, telecoms expert at broadbandchoices.co.uk, said BT’s new 4G SIM-only plans is the shake-up the mobile market has been waiting for.

He commented: “BT’s timing is certainly opportune. As mobile phone handset improvements plateau, an increasing number of people are simply keeping their existing handset and buying a low cost SIM-only, rather than shelling out for an expensive monthly contract that comes with a slightly better handset included.”

broadbandchoices.co.uk has set out some tips for those thinking about making the switch to SIM-only:

Check your contract: double check your existing contract to see how long you have left on the deal and how much you will have to pay to leave.

Unlock your handset: check whether your handset is ‘locked’ to your existing network. If it is this means your handset will only work using a SIM from your provider so you will need to get it unlocked in order for a new SIM from a different provider to work.

Revaluate your usage: your usage may have changed since you first purchased your current contract so switching deals is the perfect time to upgrade or downgrade accordingly.

Compare 4G tariffs with Recombu

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