Plusnet Mobile is due to close in the UK. Find out how to transfer your mobile service to EE, and discover alternative deals with EE coverage.

In the UK, Plusnet is due to close their mobile service over the next few months. This means all Plusnet Mobile customers will need to move to another network, with Plusnet teaming up with EE to offer a discounted range of 5G SIM-only deals.

In this article, we’ll look at the upcoming closure of Plusnet Mobile in the UK. We’ll also look at EE’s range of discounted 5G SIM-only deals for Plusnet Mobile customers, along with the other providers that also offer coverage from EE.

What’s Happening To Plusnet Mobile?

Plusnet Mobile originally launched in 2016, taking over from the LIFE Mobile network that was previously operated by Phones4u. Since then, they’ve offered low-cost SIM-only deals with access to 4G coverage on the EE network. Alongside BT and EE, Plusnet is part of the BT Group.

In 2022, BT announced that EE would become their flagship consumer brand. For instance, they previously operated three different mobile networks: BT Mobile, EE and Plusnet Mobile. However, to simplify things, they’ll only be offering mobile plans through EE going forwards. That’s the reason why Plusnet Mobile is due to be closed.

In recent years, Plusnet Mobile has fallen a little behind the times. For instance, Plusnet’s mobile customers have never had access to 5G coverage, or features like Wi-Fi Calling or 4G Calling. One advantage of moving your plan to EE is that all of these extra features will become available on your phone.

Over the next few months, existing Plusnet Mobile customers will be offered a 5G-ready SIM-only deal from EE. Alternatively, it’s also possible to switch to a different mobile network without incurring any exit fees from Plusnet.

There are no changes to the Plusnet Broadband service, which continues to operate with any changes.

EE Deals for Plusnet Customers

If you’re a Plusnet Mobile customer, you’ll be able to get a discounted 30-day SIM-only plan when you move to EE. To unlock the special EE deals, you’ll need to get a verification code, either from the Plusnet Mobile app or website.

The following table shows EE’s 30-day rolling SIM-only plans for existing Plusnet Mobile customers:

Tariff Minutes Texts Data Monthly
Cost
Essential Unlimited Unlimited 5GB £6.00
1 months
Essential Unlimited Unlimited 10GB £10.00
1 months
Essential Unlimited Unlimited 20GB £12.00
1 months
Essential Unlimited Unlimited 125GB £15.00
1 months

If you’re looking for unlimited data or Inclusive Extras with your plan (e.g. Apple Music or Netflix), you can choose one of EE’s other SIM-only plans instead. This may come with a longer contract (e.g. a 12 month contract or 24 month contract).

Once you’ve moved from Plusnet Mobile to EE, you’ll get access to 5G coverage with a maximum download speed of 100Mbps. To access 5G, you’ll need a 5G-ready phone and to be using it in a 5G coverage area. You’ll also get Wi-Fi Calling and 4G Calling on compatible devices. There’s also Stay Connected Data, along with Data Gifting if you have multiple lines on your EE account.

One thing that you’ll lose after moving to EE is the inclusive European roaming that Plusnet previously offered on their service. Instead, you’ll need to pay an extra £2.29 per day to use your phone in Europe on EE. That’s something to bear in mind if you’re planning a trip abroad very soon (e.g. you could delay moving to EE until you get back from your trip).

Alternative Deals with EE Coverage

If you’re looking at other mobile networks that also offer coverage from EE, you could consider getting a SIM card from Lyca Mobile, Talk Home Mobile or 1p Mobile. All of them offer 4G & 5G coverage from EE, with no contract and no credit check required for their plans.

At present, our recommendation is to join Lyca Mobile, who offer 4G & 5G coverage from EE on their plans. When you sign up as a new Lyca Mobile customer, you can benefit from an introductory price of as little as 99p per month for 3 months:

NetworkMinutesTextsDataMonthly Cost
LycamobileUnlimitedUnlimited5GB£1.29
for 3 months, then £5.90/month
LycamobileUnlimitedUnlimited10GB£1.49
for 3 months, then £5.90/month
LycamobileUnlimitedUnlimited15GB£1.80
for 3 months, then £8.50/month
LycamobileUnlimitedUnlimited20GB£2.39
for 3 months, then £7.90/month
LycamobileUnlimitedUnlimited30GB£5.99
for 6 months, then £12/month
LycamobileUnlimitedUnlimited88GB£8.00
LycamobileUnlimitedUnlimitedUnlimited£9.99
for 6 months, then £25/month
LycamobileUnlimitedUnlimited200GB£9.99
for 12 months, then £25/month
LycamobileUnlimitedUnlimited100GB£10.00
for 6 months, then £20/month

There’s no contract and no credit check on all of Lyca Mobile’s plans, so you can easily change or cancel at any time.

For more information, see our Lyca Mobile review. You can also read our in-depth guide to mobile networks that use EE coverage, along with our comparison of the UK’s best SIM-only deals.

Keeping Your Phone Number

If you’re moving away from Plusnet Mobile, it’s easy transferring your phone number to another network.

Start by texting PAC to 65075 on your Plusnet Mobile phone. You’ll get a nine-digit code in response from Plusnet (this will be TSL followed by six numbers). You can then give this nine-digit code to your new mobile network and they’ll transfer your service over once you’re signed up.

For step-by-step instructions on how to transfer your phone number, please select the mobile network you’re planning to join:

PAC Code Finder: Transfer Your Plusnet Mobile Phone Number To Another Network

Select your new mobile network:

  More Options

You’ll need to follow the same process for transferring your phone number, whether you’re moving to EE or to another mobile network.

All of Plusnet Mobile’s early cancellation fees have been waived as part of their service closure, whether you’re on a 12-month contract or on a 1-month rolling plan.

More Information

For more information about the upcoming Plusnet Mobile closure, please see Plusnet’s official website.

Your Comments 55 so far

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  • Sylvia Pilgrim said:

    Sadly having to move from Plusnet. If I move to Lyca mobile does their ‘roaming’ include Tenerife? Some companies include it some don’t due to Tenerife being an Island & not part of mainland Spain. Many thanks

    • Hi Sylvia,
      Thanks for your comment. Yes, Tenerife is covered by the normal Spanish mobile networks, so any usage there will just count as being roaming usage in Spain. Lyca Mobile’s EU roaming offer therefore includes Tenerife as well.
      Hope this helps,
      Ken

  • I appreciate your summary of the Plusnet service. As you imply, it is an “EE lite” service. I would not rely on predictions of EE coverage for Plusnet service. As far as I can gather, EE do not allow MVNOs to use the 4G, 800MHz band 20 frequencies. This band gives far greater reach in rural areas and greater penetration in built up areas. I have found that plusnet 4G coverage is very patchy. I have no way of checking but I suspect that one would get better 4G coverage from an MVNO using O2 or even 3 which do allow access to band 20.
    I might add that call forwarding and short code SMS addresses are not supported on plusnet or any other EE MVNOs

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