Sky Mobile Review & Coverage – Is Sky Mobile any good in 2024?

In this article, we're going to examine the coverage of Sky Mobile's coverage/network and see if it is suitable for your needs.

As Sky is a mobile virtual network operator, it uses the O2 network. We'll also look at the different SIM Only plans that Sky Mobile offers, including family SIMs and data-only plans. But first, let's take a closer look at the coverage map. After all, how good is the coverage of Sky in your area?

Sky Mobile Coverage: Is it any good?

Sky Mobile is one of the UK's leading mobile virtual network operators or MVNOs. This means it uses another bigger network (O2). Therefore, one needs to assess whether O2's network is any good - for this you should consider reading our O2 network review too.

Sky's phone network launched in 2016 and was heavily promoted by actors and celebrities. The network now boasts a market share of about 5% and is positioned above rivals iD Mobile, Talkmobile, O2, and Vodafone, and only slightly behind BT and giffgaff. Users can choose to sign up for a monthly data package, or go with pay-as-you-go SIM.

Currently, the network has 99% coverage of the UK, 4G speeds, and unlimited data streaming for Sky apps. Users do not need to worry about running out of data because the company's Roll feature allows users to roll over unused data for up to three years. They can cash in their spare data for discounts and rewards. In addition, Sky Mobile UK is a member of Which?, which gives its customers exclusive access to their reviews and recommendations.

Sky Mobile has several plans that include data rollover and WiFi Calling.

Customers can also opt for Sky VIP to receive unlimited data for a low monthly price. If you want to download a lot of files, Sky Mobile UK offers a data rollover service. Sky Mobile offers a free trial of Sky 5G, which can boost your internet speed. The upload speed of 5G on Sky mobile UK is around 10Mbps, which is above average for a mobile network.

About Sky Mobile Roaming

If you’re travelling in the EU, you can use your phone as you would at home.  However, Sky ow charges a hefty £3.50 per GB of data used for those travelling in Europe who go over a 25GB fair usage limit.  It’s unlikely you’ll use that much data, though, and can set limits to stop that happening.  

Outside of Europe, some contracts include O2’s Travel Inclusive Zone Bolt On, letting you roam in Europe and 27 other countries, including the USA.

As a mobile virtual network operator, Sky Mobile UK uses the O2 cell station infrastructure.So roughly the same costs apply as they would to O2 too.

About Sky's Network Coverage

As the MVNO (mobile virtual network operator) of O2, Sky Mobile UK makes use of O2's network to provide mobile phone services. It offers the best data rollover scheme of any network in the UK, allowing you to save unused data for up to three years and cash it in for rewards. Users can also top up their phone allowances monthly, rather than monthly in half-GB increments.

Both Sky Mobile UK and O2 have excellent network coverage, but there are a few things to keep in mind before choosing the two. The two networks can be incompatible and may not always work, so you should make sure to check the coverage before making a decision. Both networks have similar coverage, but O2's coverage is better in some areas than Sky Mobile's. As a result, Sky Mobile UK and O2 both offer data plans, but they differ in how much they cost.

Sky Mobile Customer Service

As regular readers will know, Ofcom conduct surveys into customer satisfcation for all the main networks and providers. And Sky Mobile is included, thankfully, so we can easily refer to Ofcom's results.

Sky Mobile pulls off a similar achievement in the Best Customer Service category, with 65% of its customers very satisfied with the level of support and 34% satisfied, putting it head and shoulders above runners-up Tesco Mobile and Giffgaff, let alone EE, Vodafone and Three.

And while Ofcom’s latest figures don’t give us a full set of results for Sky Mobile as a standalone company, we do know that only ~5% of customers had any reason to complain, and that only three complaints about Sky emerged for every 100,000 subscribers – both below average.

Note that, this is for Sky in general, including their TV packages, so it's a bit skewed.

Sky Mobile UK does not "own" O2 or vice versa, it is a business relationship of sorts. Instead, it uses O2's network for both its calling and data signal. This long-term deal ensures that customers have the same signal strength and coverage as their O2 counterparts.

The best part is, both services are available in the UK. The only difference is that Sky Mobile has a better customer service rating. It's worth checking the coverage map before making a purchase.

Tip: Read our EE review.

Sky has excellent coverage in most parts of the UK, with 4G available in 98% of the country. However, you should check the coverage map online before deciding whether Sky Mobile UK is the right choice for you. O2's network coverage is excellent, but the coverage can be patchy on certain Android devices and can't be used by pay-as-you-go customers. Luckily, there are more than 15,000 free WiFi hotspots nationwide.

Sky Data-Only Plans, are they worth it?

There are a number of data-only plans available from Sky Mobile, and there are many advantages to having them. The first is that they are affordable compared to many other mobile networks. These deals often have unlimited texts and calls and rollover data. Sky also offers 24-month and 30-month contracts as well as SIM-only plans. Moreover, you can even use your unused data for up to 3 years if you change your mind.

The next option is a pay-as-you-go (PAYG) plan. These plans vary in terms of the amount of data they provide, but all of them include unlimited texting and calls in the UK. As long as you pay for your data plan in full, you'll never go over your monthly limit.

Another advantage is that Sky Mobile doesn't charge any overage costs - your data plan will simply stop working once you use all of your data.

Despite the fact that Sky Mobile does not offer unlimited data, they have some interesting features. For one thing, they have 99% coverage in the UK. In addition, they offer 4G speeds and free streaming of Sky apps, meaning you can use your data without worrying about running out.

Another great feature of Sky Mobile is its Roll feature, which lets you roll over unused data for up to three years. This means you can use the extra data to get discounts and rewards.They call it Sky Piggybank and you can read the details here.

If you're looking for a SIM-only plan, Sky Mobile offers three different sizes of SIM cards. It's easy to get one that's the right size, and you can trade in your old phone for a new one. As long as you're not using up your data, your phone will be good as new, as long as it's in good condition. These plans are great for people who want to keep their phones until their contracts end. They can also keep their SIM cards and use them on other devices.

Try the Sky Family SIMs

Sky Mobile UK offers a variety of handset plans, including handset credit options and of course cheap SIM-only deals. The company also offers the option to swap handsets every year or two years.

SKY Mobile also offers a family SIM card, which allows families to have their own number and save money on phone bills. This is a great option for families with children who need a number of phones, but don't want to pay full price for them.

In addition to offering family SIM cards, Sky also offers a wide range of additional features, including exclusive Sky TV features. Users can also opt to share unused data with up to five other members of their family. In addition, Sky also offers the option of swapping their mobile phone with another one of the same model for a specified period of time. However, users must be sure that the old handset is in good condition before they can swap it.

Sky Bolt Ons reviewed (updated)

Similar to the O2 Bolt On idea, another bonus is the ability to bank extra data. During the national data lockdown, Sky Mobile customers have been saving more data than ever before. They are currently rolling over an average of 69GB** of data into their Piggybank. This means that they can spend whatever extra data they have without paying full price. And while this option may not be suitable for everyone, it is great for those who don't have access to broadband.

One of the main features of the company's family SIMs is its generous rollover options. Users can store data for up to three years in an online 'piggybank' if they don't use it immediately. Moreover, this mobile operator does not own its own network, so the service is based on one of the UK's four national networks. However, if you are a member of the Sky VIP rewards programme, you may be able to claim a 1GB boost per SIM.

How good is the Sky network for calling?

The Sky Mobile UK mobile network is one of the best, and one of the most reliable, networks in the United Kingdom. The network has excellent coverage and boasts 4G calling. Sky customers can opt for 12-month or even a 24-month contracts. Alternatively, they can pay off their contract within one month.

As part of the fourth largest mobile network in the UK, Sky Mobile has widespread coverage of 2G and 3G signals. Its coverage map shows you indoor and outdoor coverage. The network also features 4G and 5G at no extra cost, and customers can carry over unused data for up to three years. Similarly, Sky Mobile customers can use 4G data for free with some plans and tethering. The network is compatible with all major brands and carriers.

The Sky Mobile UK mobile network also supports Wi-Fi calling. It is compatible with iPhones and Android devices. However, the network does not support Samsung Galaxy S9+. Other Samsung devices that may work include Huawei P30, Samsung Galaxy S9, and Sony Xperia 1.

While Sky Mobile does not own the O2 network, it uses its network for data signal and calls. This agreement guarantees that Sky customers enjoy the same signal and coverage as their O2 counterparts. In addition, Sky Mobile also has call centres in the UK. Hence, Sky customers have fewer chances to get stuck in a call center. Moreover, Sky Mobile users can enjoy unlimited data streaming with Sky apps.

Do Sky still do the Piggybank?

Yes. If you have leftover data at the month’s end, Sky Mobile rolls this data into your Sky Piggybank.

You can keep it for three years to use at what time you require it most, or you can switch over it for a variety of discounts on phones, tablets and other related accessories. You can mix your plan whenever you wish for. And enjoy limitless Streaming on all Sky apps, like Sky Sports and Sky Go, without utilising any data. Sky Mobile is one of the best networks in the UK with 99% network coverage.

The plans start from £6 a month, along with an excellent range of the most up-to-date phones and tablets, so there’s something for one and all. Sky Mobile offers you the flexibility to change your existing plan whenever you like. Any data you don’t utilise is moved into your Sky Piggybank at the month’s end.

Even, you can utilise it to top up your data allowance at what time you’re running low or cash it for a variety of discounts. Sky Mobile customers can look forward to average speeds of 10Mbps. Also, you can make the most of the 20,000 Sky Wi-Fi hotspots located all over the UK.

Make to read our Lebara Mobile network review.