topic Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim in Mobile Data

Very slow data on unlimited sim

anomander0108 — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 13:54:33 GMT

Wasn't sure to tag this onto another thread or start a new one but couldn't see the exact issue I'm facing so, here we are.

I recently bought a 5g unlimited plan as EE had the best coverage in my area. The speed checked shows excellent outdoor and good indoor.

I am moving house in a few months and thought to go down this route to allow me to get online straight away wherever I next reside and avoid any potential issues that I might have if I took out a fixed line contract.

I use a TP Link Archer NX200 router. It throws out speeds of c.800mbs which is good enough for my needs.

I used a signal checker and it is showing between -32dbm to -40dbm RSSI so, placement is good.

However, I get between 0.40 mbs and 5mbs download speed and slightly more upload.

Faced with these atrocious speeds on 5g, I switched to 4g on the router yesterday and thought I had resolved my issues as I was getting between 70mbs and 120mbs download speed.

With this breakthrough, I downloaded a 40gb game on xbox and watched streaming tv for the first time in a while.

However, this morning the problem reappeared. Same very slow speeds on 5g, 4g anything I try.

What could be the reason for this? Could I be capped somehow on the amount of data I can use? I notice on my account is states I can gift 120gb but I have none left to gift. Seems suspicious to me if I have unlimited data.

Any advice or thoughts would be greatly appreciated as I have been trying to resolve this for a few weeks now

Thanks

Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim

XRaySpeX — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 14:01:41 GMT

Always best to start your own thread to get help & not get confused,

There is a FUP of 600MB data p.m. on unlimited plans.

Gifting data is only for other nos. on the same a/c. So if you only have this 1 no. there is nowhere to gift to.

Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim

Northerner — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 14:04:05 GMT

Hi @anomander0108

Have you checked EE network status checker for signal issues

Unlimited is only 600GB per month not unlimited and EE coverage map is a guide only. It sounds like you're on the outskirts of a 5G area or in a poor signal area if there is no reported issues.

EE do not offer any speed guarantees.

Have you tried restarting your router. If this continues then report a problem via the link above.

Thanks

Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim

anomander0108 — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 14:17:36 GMT

Hi, thanks for confirming unlimited data is capped at 600gb

However, yesterday was the only day in the last month since I've had this sim that I've had speeds of greater than 10mbs so, genuinely can't see how I would have breached that amount.

Also concerned that I had explained this was to be my main broadband link when I went into the shop to buy the plan (I didn't do this online as couldn't work out what best plan for me was on EE website)

Finally, to sell this as an Unlimited plan is misleading if it actuallycapped. It may say in their T&c's (I haven't checked) but unlimited should mean no cap and to apply differently is lying.

I'll check what I have used once I can actually access EE website again as it usually times out due to my slow connection

Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim

Northerner — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 14:21:50 GMT

Hi @anomander0108

It will also say in the "The Legal Bit" as well as your terms and conditions.

Unlimited Data Plans : 50GB fair use policy applies outside UK. Personal, non-commercial use only. If you regularly tether 12 or more devices, we will consider this non-personal use and have the right to move you to a more suitable plan. We will consider usage above 600GB/month to be non-personal use and have the right to apply traffic management controls to deprioritise your mobile traffic during busy periods or to move you to a business plan. You can gift up to 100GB. Data usage on an unlimited data plan will be deducted from giftable allowance. Any data boost allowance will be added to the giftable allowance.

Have you checked the network status link I provided above.

Thanks

Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim

anomander0108 — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 14:27:26 GMT

To compound this farce, I have another unlimited sim that my wife uses and tried to gift 120gb data to this apparent used up sim. But, as it is classed as unlimited, it won't let me gift data.

Have I stumbled on another telecommunications company to rival Virgin in shocking service?

Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim

anomander0108 — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 14:29:47 GMT

Hi Northener

Apologies, yes I had checked and it was saying Good.

Thanks

Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim

anomander0108 — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 15:01:08 GMT

Ok, so I logged into my router and it says I have used 65gb of data. Ee shows I have 600gb of 600gb used, plus some other data blocks that have either expired while only having used a fraction of them and one active 185gb block.

So, firstly why such a large disparity in usage stats between my router and EE and also, if I have an active 185gb due for expiry 25 June, then should I not be fine to use that up?

I am convinced there is something wrong here. As I said at the beginning I have only had one day in the entire time I've held this plan where the speeds have been anything close to normal. The rest of the time it has been less than 10mbs download speed

Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim

XRaySpeX — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 15:07:30 GMT

Are they in sync?

Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim

anomander0108 — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 15:09:55 GMT

Sorry, not sure what you mean. What am checking to ensure alignment?

Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim

XRaySpeX — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 15:27:11 GMT

Your router's data usage timescale with your EE billing month.

Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim

anomander0108 — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 15:37:53 GMT

Ok, I understand.

It was set to a default which didn't provide dates. If it's possible to get this info then I will need to dig through the manual to see where it is recorded.

However, if I have had one day where I've been able to stream an episode of a tv show and download a game that was 40gb, with the rest of the time being a trickle service where I even struggle to load web pages, then I think it's safe to say there is no chance I could have exceeded 600gb. This sim has only ever been used in this router which I bought 2 days before I got the sim.

Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim

bristolian — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 16:20:25 GMT

@anomander0108 wrote:

I used a signal checker and it is showing between -32dbm to -40dbm RSSI so, placement is good.

However, I get between 0.40 mbs and 5mbs download speed and slightly more upload.

Faced with these atrocious speeds on 5g, I switched to 4g on the router yesterday and thought I had resolved my issues as I was getting between 70mbs and 120mbs download speed.

.....

However, this morning the problem reappeared. Same very slow speeds on 5g, 4g anything I try.

What EARFCN (for 4G) or NRARFCN (5G) are you connecting to?

The behaviour you're reporting is broadly consistent with being on cell-edge for 5G but having better conditions for 4G. But speeds are primarily dictated by spectrum availability not signal strength - hence asking about carrier IDs.

Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim

anomander0108 — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 16:59:09 GMT

Hi bristolian

Just checked, had set it to 4g only on router at the EARFCN was 1617. I then flipped it to 5g only and the NRARFCN was 156510.

Honestly, no idea what these mean so any advice you can offer would be appreciated.

Thanks

Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim

bristolian — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 17:06:27 GMT

By means of explanation, 4G & 5G services are delivered over multiple frequency bands, each with their own characteristics. In very simple terms, low-bands provide wider area coverage while high-bands provider greater depth of coverage with more bandwidth/spectrum - you therefore need a combination of the two, depending on urban/rural and numerous other factors.

4G-EARFCN-1617 is the standard 20Mhz-wide carrier of 1800Mhz (mid-band).

5G-NRARFCN-156510 is a 10Mhz wide 700Mhz low-band carrier.

Generally speaking, low-bands (4G-800Mhz, 5G-700Mhz) are used as a coverage extension where mid or high-bands (1800Mhz, 2100Mhz, 2600Mhz or 3500Mhz) are not available,

Hence your experience is consistent with being towards the edge of 5G but with good underlying 4G.

Re: Very slow data on unlimited sim

anomander0108 — Sun, 22 Jun 2025 17:15:36 GMT

Thanks for explaining clearly, I now understand