I spend a lot of time assessing mobile networks and trying to find the best/cheapest PAYG tariffs, so when I discovered a new company called "1p Mobile" a few months ago I realised that the UK could soon be seeing a brand new and (potentially) very cheap MVNO.
1p Mobile was apparently going to launch in July 2016, but it looks like this has been delayed.
The 1p Mobile website - www.1pmobile.com - is now live, but only has a countdown clock to (presumably) 1p Mobile's official launch date in early September 2016.
The 1p Mobile Twitter account is live, but not at all active yet.
I am looking forward to seeing a new MVNO in the UK.
We have lost quite a few in the last twelve months: GT Mobile, Mobile by Sainsbury's and As You Go Mobile have all folded - and Post Office Mobile is going to close in August 2016.
I have approached 1p Mobile to try to find out what network they will be using, but I haven't received any communication from them.
I will hazard a guess that 1p Mobile will be using the EE network, as this seems to be the most popular choice for MVNOs, especially as The People's Operator have just switched from EE to Three, which has left a sizeable gap in the market.
I hope that 1p Mobile manage to launch on time and establish themselves quickly: As You Go Mobile launched and then shut down their website after only a few weeks, before sinking without trace in June this year.
I will certainly be interested to see how 1p Mobile handle their launch, as so far they have done zero marketing.
For a new operator to not even have begun marketing at this late stage, I can't see how they are going to gain a foothold in what is already a crowded and volatile market.
Given that their launch is much later than first anticipated, it echoes As You Go Mobile's rapid decline.
Most potential customers don't really understand MVNOs, and they certainly couldn't name that many of them apart from the major players such as Tesco Mobile, so 1p Mobile will have to work damned hard to market themselves - Or they simply may not bother and vanish without anyone realising that they existed!
When 1p Mobile does go live, I'll check the full details and report back here, as well as updating my PAYG tariffs website.
