A mobile network is launching what it calls Britain’s first ‘VIP lane’ for phone signal – for up to £12 a month.
Vodafone says its ‘SuperMobile’ plan gives customers priority access to the 5G network, meaning signal problems such as at busy music festivals, gigs and sporting events should be a thing of the past.
The telecom company offers speeds up to four times faster than normal and a minimum speed of 15 Mbps in the most up-to-date signal areas.
While minimum guaranteed speeds are normally offered when taking out home broadband internet, Vodafone says this is the first time a mobile network has offered a similar guarantee.
The network says it’s a premium option for people who need full connectivity on the go, from fast downloads to streaming – and says it will let people walk away without paying an exit fee if the network doesn’t deliver.
It costs £3 more per month than Vodafone’s full-speed plans, £8 more on SIM-only plans, £4 more on handset plans or £12 per month as an ongoing add-on.
A business plan is also available for small businesses with 1-9 employees.
Signal problems at music festivals are a thing of the past with Vodafone’s new plan, but there are costs involved
VodafoneThree’s Rob Winterschladen said: ‘Vodafone SuperMobile is built to deliver a next-generation mobile experience, giving customers access to their own dedicated 5G+ FastTrack – delivering faster speeds, greater reliability and advanced security, with Britain being the first and only plan with a minimum speed guarantee.’
The technology will work by placing paying customers on a reserved ‘slice’ of mobile spectrum that will not be shared with those who do not have the subscription.
But in areas where that isn’t available, those willing to pay will still have their data prioritized over everyone else.
Vodafone insists that the offer does not violate the sacred rule of ‘net neutrality’, which would give priority to the offering of one website or app over others, for now.
Next year it will deploy similar technology to emergency services, giving them their own dedicated ‘National Critical Slice’ to keep police, fire and ambulance crews connected during major incidents, outside the civilian network.
It’s a bold move for VodafoneThree – which merged in May last year – following a pledge to invest £11 billion in improving its shared network for everyone.
In one test, Vodafone says it achieved a speed of 724Mbps on the new network – several times faster than the average UK broadband speed. But daily speeds vary depending on your location.
Customers who don’t get the promised 15Mbps in 5G+ areas can leave their credit plan without early termination fees, as long as Vodafone confirms the issue and cannot resolve it within 30 days.
The plans also come with built-in threat detection, ID monitoring, and AI-powered protection against scam calls.
