kalkulatWe No Longer Need a Big Carrier’s Wireless Plan. Discount Ones Are the Way.
Cows Look Like MapsCanada: That’s gunna be hard no.
KairuByteIt is absolutely insane to me the level of monopoly three companies hold. To the point where entering the market is nigh but impossible.
But of course “three different entities battling it out doesn’t make a monopoly” but it does if they happen to work together juuuust enough to keep things in the shitty situation that currently exists for consumers.
LWDIt’s basically three companies in the United States too. Used to be four. They just lease out their towers so a bunch of cheaper companies can create “second class citizens” on their networks.
I was in the UK and got a SIM card for travel and when the person working at the store heard I visited from Canada, they said they heard we have the most expensive internet and mobile plans. I couldn’t believe how cheap it was there.
Problem is, the smaller companies that the big 3 lease their infrastructure to here are often more expensive. There’s been multiple cases of Rogers et al. bullying the smaller companies and making their service unstable or decreasing speeds randomly. I’m sure its the same in the states as our regulatory board the CRTC essentially being a lobbying board lol.
Things are definitely getting worse. It was four companies a few years back, and the biggest reason prices aren’t increasing is because our three giants are presumably locked into a little standoff, all of them waiting for the other to make their move.
helenslunchIt is absolutely insane to me the level of monopoly three companies hold.
Fun fact: the “mono” prefix in monopoly means “one”. You can’t have three monopolies.
When three work as one, it’s essentially the same thing.
I switched to US Mobile last year. I had a rough month or two with data not working properly, but it’s smooth sailing now for $20/month for 5GB of data.
Dave.(looks at his Australian plan of unlimited calls and text and 80GB for ~USD30 and his approx 1TB of monthly rolled-over data available)
Uh, that’s great, mate, good to hear you’re getting value for money there.
Jayayess1190I’m on US Mobile paying $18 for 6gb per month. Was in Madrid, Spain for almost 2 years during the pandemic and paid €15 on Vodafone for even more. And it rolled over so I eventually had around 100Gb.
themadcodgerHey, me too! I was there the same time as you and had pretty much the same plan. I never once thought about my data usage.
downpunxxVerizon 55 a month, Spectrum 14 a month (hasn't gone up in 4 years) uses Verizons network, no brainer, lol
Pope-King JoeOn US Mobile with 5G UW and unlimited* data for like $25 (including taxes and fees) a month.
*I get like 30GB of “Premium Data” and unlimited regular data plus 5GB of hotspot.
XanthraxIf anyone didn’t know, APC applies to internet, and it will save $30 a month. I think it’s the last year though, unless they extend it or make a new one.
toxicyetiI’ve had ATT prepaid for me and the other 3 in my family and with all of us it’s about $100/month. We don’t need unlimited since everyone is almost always connected to wifi. Also they roll over unused data up to 30gb. The wife and I have 25gb plans and the kids have 5gb plans and we can use those for tethering too. Been on it for over 4 years now…
I’ve used Mint for a little over a year, no major issues past setup. I’ve noticed being “deprioritized” a few times but it hasn’t been terrible. Only thing is that T-Mobile was definitely better / easier for international roaming.
ArugulaZProblem is, of course, that most of these discount carriers are owned by the big ones. Cricket is AT&T, and Mint is what, Verizon now?
SlymeMint’s under T-Mobile now, IIRC
MVNOs are fantastic value once they get up and running in healthy competition. Australia has heaps of them and IIRC some of the cheapest mobile data charges in the world.
zeroxxxAustralia, which are regarded as one of the most expensive country to live in, have the cheapest data plan in the world.
Not sure which way the wind blows.
You win some, you lose more 🥲
I switched to Mint because T-Mobile was getting a little too monopolistic and it was a lot cheaper. Still cheaper but I guess I less escape the cartels in even the most modest sense. I also get pretty insane download speeds at my house (~750Mbps).
Who’s gonna tell him?
I feel like he will be sad if he knows. How about a round of silence?
T-Mobile is awaiting regulatory approval to acquire Mint and has otherwise reached an agreement to do so.
I use Visible which is pretty awesome. $25/mo for unlimited data, and it uses the Verizon network.
I got $10 CAD a month. 1Gb data, unlimited call and text.
I just need data for emergencies between places. Everywhere has wifi now.
In similar news the home internet is similar. Fiber is so much better than cable and a lot cheaper
I use Visible for mobile and home internet. $25/month with unlimited data.
They even sent me a free 5G phone when mine was mysteriously no longer going to work with their network ‘upgrades.’ 'Course, they tried to get me to buy one first. :)