All of Eir's mobile customers will now have access to its 5G network for free, including when roaming in 22 countries across Europe, Asia, Canada, and the Middle East.
If you've been keeping up to date with the latest mobile technology you’ll know that 5G is the latest buzzword.
5G provides speeds of around 150Mbps on average, but potentially up to 1Gbps, which is up to 10 times faster than 4G.
The catch for mobile customers at the moment is that you’ll not only need a 5G compatible handset to avail of the service, but also a tariff that provides 5G data, which you’ll likely have to pay extra for.
However, Eir has announced some big news in that it will now offer 5G to all of its new and existing mobile customers at no extra cost.
So, what does this mean for customers? We take a look.
5G for all Eir mobile customers
Eir has announced that, from today, it will offer 5G at no extra cost on all its pre-pay and billpay plans for all customers.
Currently with other providers you have to pay extra for the service.
In addition to the introduction of 5G on all its mobile plans at home, Eir customers will also be able to avail of 5G for free when roaming abroad in 22 countries across Europe, Asia, Canada, and the Middle East.
However the announcement will not apply to its 5G broadband plans, which Eir launched back in June. It also doesn't apply to its SIM-only subsidiary GoMo.
Also, the amount of data you have will still depend on the plan you’re signed up to, however most of its more expensive billpay plans now offer unlimited data.
Why is this good?
5G is the newest and most advanced mobile technology and enables customers to avail of much faster speeds when downloading data and browsing the internet.
However demand from consumers for 5G services has been relatively weak so far with many more than happy with the speeds they can get with 4G it seems.
It hasn't helped that all mobile providers have been charging extra for access to 5G until now, mainly because it’s the newest tech but also because they’re still building out their networks and that’s expensive.
However, Eir customers will now be able to get 5G on their mobile plan without having to pay more. You will, of course, need a compatible handset.
Here’s a little refresher on what exactly 5G is, how it works, and what it makes possible.
An early Christmas present
Speaking about the news, Eir CEO Carolan Lennon said:
Independent mobile network testing companies have analysed Eir’s 5G network and found that it leads for speed, availability and experience.
The benefits of 5G are numerous; 5G can enable real-time remote team working, with a faster, more reliable connection.
Ahead of the festive season, she added that the company was giving customers “the chance to experience 5G for themselves, at no extra cost”.
What else you should know
Eir has one of the largest 5G networks in the country at the moment, available to more than 70% of the population according to the company; the network also spans a total of 336 towns and cities across 1,110 sites.
If you’re curious about what other mobile providers are offering 5G services, check out this blog post where we outline what 5G plans are currently on offer from Irish providers.
In not so good news, Eir was in the news recently for having been named as the worst performing company from a customer experience standpoint in the latest CXi Report, which you can read about here.
However, despite Eir’s poor customer service record it still has some great deals on offer for customers right now, especially when it comes to broadband.
You can browse all Eir’s deals on bonkers.ie from this link.
Compare mobile and broadband deals on bonkers.ie
Did you know that you can easily and quickly compare a wide range of broadband, phone and TV deals on bonkers.ie?
Use our broadband comparison tool to review a variety of options available in your area from all of Ireland’s main telecommunications providers, including Eir, and find the best deal to suit your needs.
And if you'e thinking of signing up to a new mobile deal with Eir on foot of today's news, here are 10 things to consider when choosing a new mobile phone provider.
Get in touch with us
Are you happy with today’s news from Eir? Would you consider upgrading to a 5G compatible handset to avail of the service offering? We’d love to hear from you in the comments below!
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