5 alternative UK mobile operators

When you’re after a new mobile phone, it can be easy to become distracted by the major players in the industry, who can spend millions on marketing and advertising. But what if you want to be different and stand out? Here are five alternatives to the usual suspects…

Truphone

Aimed at the business market, Truphone offers customers the ability to store up to eight international numbers on one card, meaning they can enjoy local rates when abroad, avoiding huge roaming charges. Backed by no less than billionaire Chelsea FC owner Roman Abramovich, Truphone recently announced an expansion of their services to now cover 66 countries.

The People’s Operator

Launched in 2012, The People’s Operator (TPO) has the aim of being an ‘ethical’ mobile network operator, offering customers the option to give 10% of the amount they spend on calls, texts and data (pre-VAT) to a specific charity or community group. Originally launching in London and offering voice, text and data deals, the company announced earlier this year it would be expanding to the US and Europe thanks to new investment and interest, in particular from Wikipedia founder Jimmy Wales.

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Giffgaff

Well-known for its unusual approach to television advertising, Telefonica-owned Giffgaff launched in 2009 offering prepaid SIM cards. The company has won many awards during its lifetime, and remains popular amongst its small but loyal customer base, particularly since launching its 4G service earlier this year.

TelecomPlus

Part of the Utility Warehouse, TelecomPlus also provides over 500,000 customers in the United Kingdom with gas, electricity, landline, broadband and mobile services. The company does no advertising, relying on word-of-mouth spread to bring in new business, and is constantly rated well for its customer service.

TalkMobile

Owned by the Carphone Warehouse, TalkMobile was the first UK network to introduce £1 SIM card only plans. Launched in 2007, the company now has over 500,000 customers across the country, with its network able to reach 99.7% of the population.