Vodafone Review: The Best Network in Ireland keeps getting Better.
An in-depth review of Vodafone, Ireland's largest mobile network, covering everything from network quality to plans and customer care.
Credit: Irish Times
Published 09/08/18
If you're paying a monthly fee to access a service, you expect it to work whenever and wherever you are. It should also work as advertised, from the first day you sign up to the day you decide its time to leave. If any issues arise, they should be solved swiftly and, most importantly, you should feel like a valued customer.
Vodafone is the largest mobile network in Ireland, and for a good reason, the company manages to fulfil all of the requirements listed above, requirements that no other network in Ireland can match. As a Vodafone customer for the last number of years, I can tell you one thing about the experience, it keeps getting better.
Vodafone is the largest mobile network in Ireland, and for a good reason, the company manages to fulfil all of the requirements listed above, requirements that no other network in Ireland can match. As a Vodafone customer for the last number of years, I can tell you one thing about the experience, it keeps getting better.
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Network Overview: Excellence Exemplified
Credit: TheEffect.net
No one builds a mobile network quite like Vodafone does, and what does that mean for you, the customer? It means you will be able to make a call, send a text and access the Internet in more places than with any other network. The fact that some of my friends, who are Three or Eir customers, repeatedly beg me to provide hotspot using Vodafone's 4G because they are faced with the dreaded no service symbol speaks to the lead which Vodafone's network has over its competitors. In fact, the difference between the quality of Vodafone's network and its competitors is so large that Ookla found Vodafone to be the fastest network in nine out of ten cities in Ireland last year.
An excellent network is a direct result of the commitment that Vodafone has shown to its customers, a commitment that involved investing €750 million over a five year period, more than any other network in Ireland. When the company launched 4G initially in 2013, it claimed it would roll the network out on a nationwide scale. Fast forward five years and those bullish claims have been proven to be true. Vodafone claims over 96% population coverage with its 4G network, which is the largest in Ireland, regardless of what Three or Eir like to claim. This means Vodafone's customers can enjoy the benefits that 4G provides in thousands of towns and villages throughout Ireland, even many rural farms and houses can access the technology. Vodafone's 3G network is also the largest in Ireland, providing backup coverage in locations where 4G is unavailable.
Just because you receive 4G coverage doesn't mean you'll experience fast speeds, Three's customers know this all too well. Vodafone dominates the charts when it comes to speed, being crowned the fastest mobile network year after year by OpenSignal, Ookla and P3. In fact, Ookla's results show that Vodafone's network is around 10Mbps faster than the second fastest network, in terms of average 4G download speeds. Furthermore, you will be granted the opportunity to access the latest networking technology with Vodafone first, whether that's HD Voice, VoLTE or carrier aggregation.
For a more detailed explanation of Vodafone's network, check this out. As a conclusion to this section of the review, I would like to explain this: there is no more important measure of a mobile provider than the quality of its network, after all, what would be the purpose of a large data allowance if the network can't support it. You should be satisfied by the quality of Vodafone's network, whether you live in the deepest valley or on the tallest hill because no other Irish network boasts the same coast to coast coverage, consistently high speeds, and phenomenal reliability.
An excellent network is a direct result of the commitment that Vodafone has shown to its customers, a commitment that involved investing €750 million over a five year period, more than any other network in Ireland. When the company launched 4G initially in 2013, it claimed it would roll the network out on a nationwide scale. Fast forward five years and those bullish claims have been proven to be true. Vodafone claims over 96% population coverage with its 4G network, which is the largest in Ireland, regardless of what Three or Eir like to claim. This means Vodafone's customers can enjoy the benefits that 4G provides in thousands of towns and villages throughout Ireland, even many rural farms and houses can access the technology. Vodafone's 3G network is also the largest in Ireland, providing backup coverage in locations where 4G is unavailable.
Just because you receive 4G coverage doesn't mean you'll experience fast speeds, Three's customers know this all too well. Vodafone dominates the charts when it comes to speed, being crowned the fastest mobile network year after year by OpenSignal, Ookla and P3. In fact, Ookla's results show that Vodafone's network is around 10Mbps faster than the second fastest network, in terms of average 4G download speeds. Furthermore, you will be granted the opportunity to access the latest networking technology with Vodafone first, whether that's HD Voice, VoLTE or carrier aggregation.
For a more detailed explanation of Vodafone's network, check this out. As a conclusion to this section of the review, I would like to explain this: there is no more important measure of a mobile provider than the quality of its network, after all, what would be the purpose of a large data allowance if the network can't support it. You should be satisfied by the quality of Vodafone's network, whether you live in the deepest valley or on the tallest hill because no other Irish network boasts the same coast to coast coverage, consistently high speeds, and phenomenal reliability.
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Bill Pay: A Fright to your Wallet
It's widely recognised that Vodafone isn't the cheapest network to use, and that statement comes to light when we look at Vodafone's bill pay plans. There's no way I can sugar coat them, the plans are terrible value for money when they are compared with similarly priced offerings from Three or Eir. Of course, there is the consensus that we must pay for quality, but that only holds up to a certain limit, and these plans breach that level. Nonetheless, the plans have proven successful for the company, making Vodafone the most profitable Irish mobile network.
The issue with these plans isn't the call and text allowances, which are actually very reasonable. If all you want to do is call and text to your heart's content, you'll be thrilled to hear that all of Vodafone's bill pay and sim only plans include unlimited calls and texts to any network in Ireland. But when we drift to what most people look for today from their mobile plan, data, you'll be frightened. If you choose Vodafone for bill pay or sim only, wave goodbye to streaming high definition Netflix and YouTube, or you'll be faced with a barrage of extra charges that'll make you squirm. I feel I need to call Vodafone out on this, the data allowances offered are a complete joke, and I feel sorry for the customers that use their data with the fear of having to fork out even more money.
For a better idea of what I'm talking about, let's compare Vodafone's sim only plans to those offered by Three. For €30 monthly on a 30-day contract, the same as Vodafone's Red Connect 30 Day shown above, you can enjoy 60GB of data. The Vodafone plan gives you 5GB, see the shocking difference? Moreover, all of Three's bill pay plans offer 60GB of data, while Vodafone's largest plan provides 30GB. Read the following carefully, Three's cheapest bill pay plan (€30) gives you twice as much data as Vodafone's largest plan, which is close to three times the price (€80). That's outright ridiculous.
Tiny data allowances aside, other features with the plans include a choice of free Sky Sports or Spotify Premium on Red Connect (€60 monthly) and Red Connect Super (€80 monthly). All of the bill pay plans are subject to a twenty-four-month contract, after which, many could have purchased a small car with the amount of money they coughed up.
A key benefit that deserves praise is the ability to use your full domestic data allowance while roaming across Europe, something that isn't supported with Three's plans. Also, Vodafone is the only Irish network that provides 4G roaming, which means you access 4G speeds when you travel abroad in over one hundred countries. The plans include Secure Net, a feature that Vodafone has designed to protect you and your family on the Internet, but it seems like a gimmick to me.
As you can probably tell, these plans are too expensive and give too little in return. Some will be willing to pay for the network quality, but as the difference in performance between Vodafone and Three's network diminishes, I find it incredibly difficult to recommend these plans to anyone. Whoever created these plans needs a serious reality check, it's 2018, people use data-demanding services such as Netflix, and the plans just don't facilitate that. If it was a few years back, I could have forgiven Vodafone, but I can't at a time when our smartphones are gobbling more and more data. A change is needed.
The issue with these plans isn't the call and text allowances, which are actually very reasonable. If all you want to do is call and text to your heart's content, you'll be thrilled to hear that all of Vodafone's bill pay and sim only plans include unlimited calls and texts to any network in Ireland. But when we drift to what most people look for today from their mobile plan, data, you'll be frightened. If you choose Vodafone for bill pay or sim only, wave goodbye to streaming high definition Netflix and YouTube, or you'll be faced with a barrage of extra charges that'll make you squirm. I feel I need to call Vodafone out on this, the data allowances offered are a complete joke, and I feel sorry for the customers that use their data with the fear of having to fork out even more money.
For a better idea of what I'm talking about, let's compare Vodafone's sim only plans to those offered by Three. For €30 monthly on a 30-day contract, the same as Vodafone's Red Connect 30 Day shown above, you can enjoy 60GB of data. The Vodafone plan gives you 5GB, see the shocking difference? Moreover, all of Three's bill pay plans offer 60GB of data, while Vodafone's largest plan provides 30GB. Read the following carefully, Three's cheapest bill pay plan (€30) gives you twice as much data as Vodafone's largest plan, which is close to three times the price (€80). That's outright ridiculous.
Tiny data allowances aside, other features with the plans include a choice of free Sky Sports or Spotify Premium on Red Connect (€60 monthly) and Red Connect Super (€80 monthly). All of the bill pay plans are subject to a twenty-four-month contract, after which, many could have purchased a small car with the amount of money they coughed up.
A key benefit that deserves praise is the ability to use your full domestic data allowance while roaming across Europe, something that isn't supported with Three's plans. Also, Vodafone is the only Irish network that provides 4G roaming, which means you access 4G speeds when you travel abroad in over one hundred countries. The plans include Secure Net, a feature that Vodafone has designed to protect you and your family on the Internet, but it seems like a gimmick to me.
As you can probably tell, these plans are too expensive and give too little in return. Some will be willing to pay for the network quality, but as the difference in performance between Vodafone and Three's network diminishes, I find it incredibly difficult to recommend these plans to anyone. Whoever created these plans needs a serious reality check, it's 2018, people use data-demanding services such as Netflix, and the plans just don't facilitate that. If it was a few years back, I could have forgiven Vodafone, but I can't at a time when our smartphones are gobbling more and more data. A change is needed.
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Pay as you Go: Vodafone X is the Gold Standard
Firstly, let's talk about Vodafone's student-orientated plans, Vodafone X. These are the best pay as you go plans on the Irish market, and they cater to everyone's needs. You can choose between free Spotify Premium, free Sky Sports or unlimited weekends (unlimited calls, texts and data between 3 pm on Friday until midnight Sunday). Additionally, each of the plans includes 20GB of data, unlimited texts to any network and 100 any network calls. As with bill pay, you can use your full domestic data allowance anywhere in the EU.
I've personally been using the X Weekend plan over the last year or so, and I'm very happy with the value that it provides. I can only fault the plans in two areas. As this is a pay as you go plan, you must top up every 28 days, the €20 is used to activate the plan, so you don't keep the credit.
Also, I've discovered something disturbing which I hope Vodafone can clarify. The 4G speeds that I achieve with this plan appear to be lower than those available with Vodafone's bill pay plans. I've tested this with various different phones, in various different locations, and with various Vodafone pay as you go and bill pay accounts. In some cases, the speeds on bill pay are over 30Mbps faster, perhaps Vodafone is implementing some form of traffic management? Whatever the case, the speeds were still sufficient to do what I wanted to do, but it is a little strange.
I've personally been using the X Weekend plan over the last year or so, and I'm very happy with the value that it provides. I can only fault the plans in two areas. As this is a pay as you go plan, you must top up every 28 days, the €20 is used to activate the plan, so you don't keep the credit.
Also, I've discovered something disturbing which I hope Vodafone can clarify. The 4G speeds that I achieve with this plan appear to be lower than those available with Vodafone's bill pay plans. I've tested this with various different phones, in various different locations, and with various Vodafone pay as you go and bill pay accounts. In some cases, the speeds on bill pay are over 30Mbps faster, perhaps Vodafone is implementing some form of traffic management? Whatever the case, the speeds were still sufficient to do what I wanted to do, but it is a little strange.
Vodafone also provides other pay as you go plans, shown above, which are for the wider market, rather than Vodafone X which is primarily for students. I wouldn't choose these plans myself because the data allowances are too small, and there are certainly better offers from rivals. However, the plans include a feature called Data Rollover which allows you to add unused data from last month to this month's allowance. It is a handy feature, and I think it would be great if Vodafone rolled it out to all of their plans.
All of the plans include free roaming across the EU and require your credit to activate the plan. From my perspective, these plans are only suitable for those who use data lightly and engage in frequent calling or texting.
All of the plans include free roaming across the EU and require your credit to activate the plan. From my perspective, these plans are only suitable for those who use data lightly and engage in frequent calling or texting.
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Intangibles
Other features which affect your experience as a Vodafone customer include the My Vodafone app, which is easily the best app provided by any of Ireland's mobile networks. The app gives you the ability to check your allowances, top up, change plan, test network speed, enter competitions and contact support Essentially, it is a central hub for all the Vodafone services that you'll need. It benefits from a modern design and frequent updates that continually add new features that enrich the experience. I think the best seal of approval I can give this app is the feeling that I would miss it if I moved to another network.
In terms of a loyalty programme, Vodafone has slowly developed in-app competitions and rewards called Fantastic Days. These include the ability to enter competitions to win a new phone or tickets to an Irish Rugby match. The discounts may cover cinema tickets, meals and shopping. The programme is not on the same level as Three's 3Plus loyalty service, but it definitely adds value to your plan.
Another important aspect of any network is the quality of their customer support. I can strongly vouch for Vodafone's support, which is accessible in many different forms, such as Twitter, Live Chat, Phone and Community forums. For the most part, any issues that I've experienced have been dealt with and resolved quickly. Compare that with the support offered by Three, and there's no comparison, Vodafone wins outright.
The device selection available with Vodafone is extensive, with the expected brands such as Samsung, Apple, Huawei and Sony being available. The company also provides its own lineup of devices, which are suitable for those on the lookout for a budget device. Furthermore, Vodafone sells "Like New" devices which are used but in good condition and are priced reasonably. You really shouldn't be disappointed by the selection of devices, as it is one of the best in Ireland.
To conclude this final section, I think it is important that I mention Vodafone's policy in relation to using your device as a mobile hotspot. Vodafone fully supports this feature across all of its plans, provided you have a data allowance remaining. This is an important feature for many which Three says is forbidden to use on all of their plans.
In terms of a loyalty programme, Vodafone has slowly developed in-app competitions and rewards called Fantastic Days. These include the ability to enter competitions to win a new phone or tickets to an Irish Rugby match. The discounts may cover cinema tickets, meals and shopping. The programme is not on the same level as Three's 3Plus loyalty service, but it definitely adds value to your plan.
Another important aspect of any network is the quality of their customer support. I can strongly vouch for Vodafone's support, which is accessible in many different forms, such as Twitter, Live Chat, Phone and Community forums. For the most part, any issues that I've experienced have been dealt with and resolved quickly. Compare that with the support offered by Three, and there's no comparison, Vodafone wins outright.
The device selection available with Vodafone is extensive, with the expected brands such as Samsung, Apple, Huawei and Sony being available. The company also provides its own lineup of devices, which are suitable for those on the lookout for a budget device. Furthermore, Vodafone sells "Like New" devices which are used but in good condition and are priced reasonably. You really shouldn't be disappointed by the selection of devices, as it is one of the best in Ireland.
To conclude this final section, I think it is important that I mention Vodafone's policy in relation to using your device as a mobile hotspot. Vodafone fully supports this feature across all of its plans, provided you have a data allowance remaining. This is an important feature for many which Three says is forbidden to use on all of their plans.
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Conclusion: A Superb Network held back by its Plans
Credit: TheEffect.net
Writing a conclusion to this piece is pretty difficult. On one hand, Vodafone's network is the best in the business, but the company's plans sit on the other end of the scale. Features such as free roaming across Europe and the My Vodafone app are brilliantly executed, as is the customer support and device selection.
The bill pay plans need some serious tweaking, and Vodafone won't be able to continue offering such tiny data allowances forever, especially as the competition becomes more aggressive. Being a bill pay customer, metaphorically, is like being a lemon that is squeezed until every last pip is extracted. In reality, you are being squeezed of your money, and that doesn't happen as vigorously with other Irish networks
The company should take some inspiration from Vodafone X, which is a brilliant pay as you go offering that actually provides a decent data allowance for a price that doesn't make your eyes watery. For all the flaws with Vodafone's bill pay plans, there is one big advantage, and that's the network that you are paying for. A network that has demonstrated its ability to provide the best call, text and data experience to customers over the last number of years. For many, the quality of Vodafone's network will be enough to justify its price tag. And thats not a cliché, ComReg's statistics show Vodafone ranks as the network with the highest customer satisfaction in Ireland.
I want to conclude on a positive note, as the title clearly states, Vodafone is the best network in Ireland, period. The fact that I use Vodafone as my network of choice, and have remained with the company even after Three and Eir have flashed their enticing unlimited plans in my face is a testament to the strength of the network. You can expect to see the company rolling out blazing-fast 5G next year, and given its history with 4G, Vodafone will likely cover more people than anyone else, allowing the Internet to transform the lives of people living in some of the most remote of places. The future is exciting. Ready?
The bill pay plans need some serious tweaking, and Vodafone won't be able to continue offering such tiny data allowances forever, especially as the competition becomes more aggressive. Being a bill pay customer, metaphorically, is like being a lemon that is squeezed until every last pip is extracted. In reality, you are being squeezed of your money, and that doesn't happen as vigorously with other Irish networks
The company should take some inspiration from Vodafone X, which is a brilliant pay as you go offering that actually provides a decent data allowance for a price that doesn't make your eyes watery. For all the flaws with Vodafone's bill pay plans, there is one big advantage, and that's the network that you are paying for. A network that has demonstrated its ability to provide the best call, text and data experience to customers over the last number of years. For many, the quality of Vodafone's network will be enough to justify its price tag. And thats not a cliché, ComReg's statistics show Vodafone ranks as the network with the highest customer satisfaction in Ireland.
I want to conclude on a positive note, as the title clearly states, Vodafone is the best network in Ireland, period. The fact that I use Vodafone as my network of choice, and have remained with the company even after Three and Eir have flashed their enticing unlimited plans in my face is a testament to the strength of the network. You can expect to see the company rolling out blazing-fast 5G next year, and given its history with 4G, Vodafone will likely cover more people than anyone else, allowing the Internet to transform the lives of people living in some of the most remote of places. The future is exciting. Ready?
Why will 5G be faster than 4G?5G will be significantly faster than present-day 4G networks, and here are the reasons for the blazing-fast speeds.
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