Britain has four mobile networks in the physical sense — companies that own masts and spectrum: EE, O2, Three and Vodafone. (Vodafone and Three merged in 2025 and are combining their networks over the next few years; for now their coverage maps are still separate.) Everyone else is a virtual operator that rents capacity from one of the four and sells it under its own brand, usually for less.
The map
| Host network | Brands that run on it |
|---|---|
| EE | 1pMobile, Lyca Mobile, Mozillion, Utility Warehouse, Plusnet Mobile (closed to new customers) |
| O2 | Giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile, Chattr, Lycamobile (some plans) |
| Three | iD Mobile, Smarty, Honest Mobile, SuperDrug Mobile |
| Vodafone | VOXI, Talkmobile, Lebara, Asda Mobile |
Brands move between hosts occasionally, so treat this as a guide and check the brand's own site if it matters. Our networks page shows the host for every brand we list deals for.
What you get and what you give up
Coverage is the same as the host network — same masts, same signal. What can differ:
- Priority at busy times. Some hosts give their own customers precedence when a cell is congested. In practice most people never notice; in a packed stadium you might.
- 5G and newer features. Virtual operators sometimes get 5G, Wi-Fi calling or eSIM support later than the host. Most of the big ones have caught up.
- Customer service. Budget brands keep prices down partly by running support online or through a community forum rather than a call centre.
- Perks. The host network's extras — priority ticket schemes, streaming bundles — are usually not included, though some brands pass them on.
How to use this
Find out which host has the best signal where you live and work — ask neighbours and colleagues what they use, or check the four coverage maps. Then look at every brand on that host rather than just the host itself. The saving for identical coverage is often the biggest single win available, especially on SIM-only.