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What types of phone cards are available in the UK? What phone cards (SIM cards) are recommended for studying abroad in the UK? (Updated as of September 2022)
When studying abroad, it is generally recommended to use a local mobile phone card, which is usually obtained locally. However, the sales methods for mobile phone cards vary in different countries or regions. For example, in China, you need to present your ID card and must process the card at a physical store or complete identity verification through a software application after receiving it by mail.
In comparison, in many other countries such as the United States, France, and the UK, purchasing a mobile phone card may not require presenting an ID card. You can buy it directly without visiting a physical store by applying online or using self-service vending machines for phone cards.
So, where can you buy a mobile phone card in the UK?
There are several ways to apply for a mobile phone card in the UK:
Apply for a free UK mobile phone card on the official website. The applied phone card will be directly mailed to your address in the UK, and the SIM card is free of charge.
If you apply for your own phone card and recommend these phone cards to your friends, you can enjoy referral discounts. Each referral will earn you corresponding benefits, and your friends will also receive corresponding discounts in their new phone cards. For example, if you recommend a certain phone card to a friend, they will receive a £5 credit, and you will also receive £5 in free credit. For example, my phone card was recommended to me by a friend, so he got £5 worth of free credit, and I also received £5 worth of free credit. However, the credit will be given after you recharge and activate the card.
Purchase at mobile phone card counters or self-service vending machines in various airports in the UK. If you buy it at a counter, you can try it immediately and communicate with the staff in case of any network issues. When choosing a phone card from a vending machine, pay attention to the size of the SIM card. For example, I once mistakenly bought a regular-sized SIM card and had to spend a long time cutting it because my phone is an Apple device that uses a Nano-SIM.
Reminder: When buying a phone abroad, unless you prefer not to use a physical SIM card, such as the US version of the iPhone 14 that comes with an eSIM and does not have a physical card, it is recommended to have a dual SIM phone for studying in the UK or other countries. This is because eSIM may become popular in foreign countries in the future, and our SIM cards brought from China will not have a slot to insert.
Purchase from various mobile network operator stores or convenience stores in the UK, such as Argos.
It is also possible to purchase from certain e-commerce platforms in China.
I would like to remind you that before traveling to the UK, you can activate international roaming service for your domestic mobile number in advance. Make sure to inform the service provider that you want to activate two-way service, which includes international roaming and international long-distance calling. Clearly communicate with customer service that you want to be able to make calls from China to the UK, receive calls in the UK, and send/receive text messages while in the UK. I personally activated international long-distance and roaming services for my domestic mobile number, and the activation itself is free. However, please note that making or receiving calls in the UK will incur charges, and the rates can be quite expensive. In the first few years abroad, I chose to suspend my domestic number while keeping it active. The monthly fee was only 5 yuan, which was the minimum.
However, later on, I realized that there were times when I needed to receive verification codes on my domestic mobile number. In the past few years, when the internet was not as developed, I hardly needed my domestic number while abroad. But as the internet continued to advance, it became necessary to receive QR code verifications for almost everything, and it had to be sent to the previously registered domestic number. This became quite inconvenient. So, I opted for the minimum monthly fee, which I believe was around 8 yuan, although I may have forgotten the exact amount. I advise everyone to set a simple password for their mobile card in advance and write it down in a notebook or digital notepad. Sometimes you may need the password for your mobile card, and there may be situations where you need to contact the customer service of your domestic telecom provider. Due to time differences or other factors, it is really important to remember the password, even though the chances of using it are very, very low.
I would like to remind everyone that if you are overseas, you must make a few calls within 60 days of using your domestic phone card to avoid suspension. However, even if your card is suspended, you will still be charged the monthly fee as usual, and you will need to go to the telecom store in person to reactivate it by presenting your ID card. Although some staff members may claim that reactivation can be done through an app, mini-program, or official account, in practice, most attempts are unsuccessful, and they will still require you to visit the store. I have personally tested this multiple times recently. However, remote reactivation is supported for some telecom cards in certain regions. You can search for "China Telecom Remote Counter" on WeChat to make an appointment for reactivation. Currently, some regions of China Mobile and China Unicom support online reactivation, but the process is quite complicated. For regions that have not yet implemented online reactivation, there is currently no available solution.
Key reminder: Even in regions where China Mobile has implemented online reactivation, there may still be cases where reactivation is not successful. It is a complex issue with a recurring bug. You will understand this better after experiencing it. I am not sure about the situation with China Unicom as I don't have a China Unicom number at the moment.
Which mobile network operators are there in the UK?
There are four major telecommunications network operators in the UK: EE, 3 (Three), O2, and Vodafone.
Reminder: Some official websites of UK universities may provide recommendations for UK SIM cards, as shown in the following image from the University of Bristol. The listed options for students include six different phone cards: EE, GIFFGAFF, O2, Three, Vodafone, and VOXI.
Official link of the University of Bristol:
https://www.bristol.ac.uk/students/new/new-international/after/uk-mobile-phone/
So let's proceed in this order
EE
Official website:https://shop.ee.co.uk
The largest operator in the UK is EE, which was formed by the merger and rebranding of the previous companies T-Mobile and Orange.
O2
Official website:https://www.o2.co.uk
It is one of the older mobile network operators in the UK, and many other companies' SIM cards also use the O2 network, such as Giffgaff and Tesco Mobile. One advantage of using O2 is that you can directly connect to O2 hotspots throughout the UK using the O2 app, and you can also connect to the wireless network (WIFI) on the London Underground.
Giffgaff
Official website:https://www.giffgaff.com
giffgaff uses the O2 network.
You can apply for giffgaff for free on their official website without the need for identification or other documents. They will send the SIM card to your address in the UK free of charge. The charges for giffgaff are relatively inexpensive, and it is free to call and text other users on the same network.
The cost of making calls to China is 2p per minute, which is approximately 2 cents per minute. Sending text messages is slightly more expensive at 8p. Overall, the prices are very reasonable, and I personally prefer to directly make phone calls back to China using giffgaff.
For UK SIM cards, it is recommended that you purchase non-contract ones directly by applying and selecting a suitable plan. Similar to monthly plans in China, UK SIM cards also offer monthly packages. If you choose not to renew the package upon expiration, the SIM card will automatically expire and become invalid. The image below shows the available packages from Giffgaff as an example.
Vodafone
website:https://www.vodafone.co.uk
Vodafone is a multinational mobile telecommunications operator and one of the largest mobile network companies in the world. It has investments in 27 countries worldwide.
3(Three)
website:http://www.three.co.uk
This operator belongs to Li Ka-shing, and their stores in Chinatown provide Chinese services. As of the first half of 2022, more than 9.7 million users in the UK were using 3 (Three).
Voxi
Tesco Mobile
website:https://www.tescomobile.com
"This company uses the O2 network."
Lebara
website:https://mobile.lebara.com/gb/en
"This company uses the Vodafone network."
"Ten-Rise Miao reminds you that number portability in the UK is very convenient. If I were to make a recommendation, I would suggest choosing from the four main operators in the UK: 3 (Three), O2, Vodafone, and EE. However, it ultimately depends on personal preference. Everyone can visit the official websites and compare their offerings. Some may have good signal coverage but less attractive plans, while others may have more data but higher prices. Ultimately, choosing what suits you best is the most convenient option."
There are three types of charging methods for UK SIM cards:
Pay as You Go SIMs: These are cards that you can buy and use immediately. You can top up with any amount and use it for as long as the credit lasts. Once the balance runs out, the card will be automatically deactivated. This type of SIM card is suitable for short-term or travel purposes, but it tends to be slightly more expensive with limited data allowances.
Monthly Plan SIMs: These are monthly subscription SIM cards, which are commonly preferred by international students studying in the UK. Similar to monthly plans in China, these cards include data allowances, calling minutes, and a certain number of text messages.
Contract Mobile Phone Plans: These are contract-based plans, similar to those in China, where you sign a contract for either 12 or 24 months. However, for short-term stays in the UK, it is not recommended to choose contract plans as they usually require a minimum monthly spend and have automatic deductions, which may not be cost-effective. Additionally, unlocking the phone may be required later if you want to use it outside the UK.
The main mobile network operators in the UK include O2, Vodafone, EE, 3 (Three), Giffgaff, Lebara, Talkmobile, Lycamobile, and Tesco Mobile.
In the UK, there are generally three main ways to get a mobile phone plan: Pay as you go (top-up as you use), SIM Only (buying just the SIM card with options for 30-day or 12-month contracts), and Monthly Contract Phone (signing a contract for a phone with bundled minutes and data). It's important for everyone to consider their own needs and choose the option that suits them best.
Pay as you go: This type of card doesn't have any contract restrictions, but the call rates are usually higher, and the charging methods may vary depending on the network and time period.
SIM Only: If you already have your own phone, you can choose to sign a contract for just the SIM card in the UK. Contracts are available in monthly, yearly, and two-year terms, among other options.
Regardless of the option you choose, you can select a tariff and data plan based on your actual usage needs.
Monthly Contract Phone: This refers to contract-based phones. If you want to buy a new phone, this type of contract can be a good option, provided that you plan to stay in the UK for a while. By signing a contract, you can get a subsidized phone, but you'll need to pay for the phone and the monthly network charges for one or two years. If you want to terminate the contract before its completion, you will generally need to pay an early termination fee and settle the remaining charges. Some providers offer early termination services, but they usually require a 30-60 day notice after you have completed at least half of the contract. Terminating the contract without paying all the charges can affect your credit score.