Who Uses EE's Network in the UK?

1pMobile, Lyca Mobile, spusu, Grade Mobile, Talk Home and Mozillion are among the providers using EE's UK mobile network. ParentShield also sells an EE-only child-safety SIM, alongside a separate multi-network option. BT Mobile returned in 2026 for eligible BT Broadband customers. Other EE-based services include Utility Warehouse, MobileCoop (formerly Your Co-op Mobile) and Ecotalk. Plusnet Mobile has closed — an appearance in an older network list does not mean you can still join it.

If EE reception works for you but the price does not, you can compare a cheaper retail provider without changing the underlying network family. Start with our live EE-network SIM-only deals from EE, 1pMobile, Lyca and spusu. Sharing EE's radio infrastructure can mean broadly similar coverage, not identical speeds, 5G capabilities, roaming or customer support. The best deal is the cheapest suitable plan, not the cheapest familiar logo.

Which mobile providers use EE? The practical list

How to read this table: “EE-based” describes an underlying radio-network relationship, not common ownership, identical features or proof that the brand has an orderable SIM today. The first four rows are the providers in our selected live EE catalogue. The other entries are included to answer the wider “who uses EE?” question; they are not hidden offers you can buy through our site. For less familiar services, especially those cited in older industry lists, verify current sales eligibility and host-network arrangements before ordering.

Ofcom's mobile coverage FAQ lists several EE-related brands, but it is not a current shopping directory: it still includes the closed Plusnet Mobile service and uses the older Your Co-op name. MobileCoop is the current brand, and its own residential-service guidance confirms EE connectivity. Grade Mobile and Talk Home describe their own EE-network arrangements. ParentShield illustrates why the exact product matters: an EE-only SIM and a SIM designed to roam across several UK networks cannot simply be described as providing the same network access. Other niche brands may sell EE-based products without being represented in our tariff feed.

BT Mobile and Plusnet: two names that need care

BT Mobile is not simply a discontinued legacy brand. BT launched a new BT-branded mobile offer in May 2026; its current eligibility information says it is exclusive to BT Broadband customers. Being a BT Broadband customer is therefore required to join the current offer; it should not be presented as an open-to-everyone EE MVNO bargain. If you later cancel BT Broadband, your mobile price may increase under BT's current terms, so check the combined commitment before comparing it with a standalone SIM. EE and BT share a corporate group, but a BT Mobile agreement is not automatically the same retail product as an EE SIM.

Plusnet Mobile is the opposite case. Plusnet confirms that its mobile service has closed. Plusnet Broadband continues separately, but “Plusnet Mobile” should not appear as an available option alongside today's 1pMobile, Lyca or spusu offers. Some coverage pages and historic articles still list it because they describe the network it used, rather than whether it still sells mobile services.

Want EE coverage at a different price? Start here

If your current EE connection works well, start with a same-network shortlist. Our live EE-network comparison shows selected offers with their own verification dates, contract lengths, data allowances, Full plan details and View Deal controls. Compare the price after any introductory offer and the complete commitment, not just the first bill.

The EE-network offers page owns the live tariff comparison. This guide answers who uses EE, what that does and does not mean, and which providers are worth checking for your circumstances. It does not duplicate offer cards or freeze changing prices into an article.

Compare all EE-network SIM deals →

EE, 1pMobile, Lyca and spusu: what are you actually buying?

The four brands share a common radio-network family but sell different arrangements. A cheaper SIM is only a saving if it covers your real data needs and retains the services you use. One company may offer a more attractive first payment; another may make more sense over six or twelve months.

EE: the host network's own retail service

Buying an EE SIM directly can make sense if you need a specific service that the chosen EE plan includes. That might be an advanced 5G option, a premium feature, eligible account benefits or a particular contract arrangement. Do not assume every EE tariff has every flagship feature: plan and device eligibility still matter.

A concrete example is EE Fast Lane, a performance feature tied to Full Works Plus, a compatible 5G+ device and SIM, and eligible 5G+ coverage when the network is busy. EE says it can move eligible traffic further forward in a congestion queue, but does not guarantee a speed. It demonstrates a real difference between retail plans, not a universal rule that all EE MVNO users are deliberately deprioritised. Only pay extra for a feature you can use.

For a direct one-to-one decision rather than a general network list, read EE vs 1pMobile.

1pMobile: EE infrastructure with a choice of payment models

1pMobile states that its mobile service uses EE's network infrastructure. It is worth considering if you want to retain EE-based reception while comparing PAYG credit, data Boosts and renewing bundles. These are not synonyms: a pay-per-use balance behaves differently from a prepaid allowance which renews every 30 days. Check any top-up requirement, data or voice use outside the bundle, auto-renewal and the consequences of running out of credit.

For a person who mostly uses Wi-Fi, a smaller suitable bundle may beat a large allowance. For regular data use, calculate the complete sequence of renewals rather than relying on a nominal cost per GB. Open current 1pMobile SIM deals and compare the offers against the other EE-network options shown above. If you use your phone as a laptop hotspot or for intensive usage, read the specific fair-use and tethering terms before selecting the bundle.

Lyca Mobile: EE coverage plus destination-specific calling choices

Lyca moved its UK wholesale partnership to BT Wholesale/EE in 2023; older articles identifying Lyca as an O2-based provider are outdated for its current UK relationship. Lyca can make sense if an eligible package combines useful UK data with international calls, or if a current promotional plan meets your needs at a competitive longer-term cost.

Be precise about the benefits. Calling a foreign telephone number from Britain is international calling; using your mobile while travelling overseas is roaming. Neither proves the other is included. International minutes, covered destinations, mobile-versus-landline rules, roaming allowances and promo renewal prices vary by the specific plan. A cheap UK-data card is not proof that your family's overseas number is included.

Compare Lyca Mobile's current offers or read our Lyca Mobile review. For decisions led by calling abroad rather than mobile coverage, use Best SIMs for International Calls from the UK.

spusu: another EE-based choice, not an EE contract

spusu is an independent EE-network alternative with its own UK plans, customer service, payment rules and feature support. Its range may suit someone comparing flexible data, roaming or eligible international-calling benefits, but the amount of UK data is not the same as the data available abroad. Likewise, an advertised 5G or eSIM feature only counts if supported on the relevant product and device.

Check spusu SIM-only deals against the other options shown in the EE-network comparison. A difference of a few pounds matters less if the cheaper option lacks the feature you rely on at home or at work.

Do EE MVNOs have the same coverage and speeds?

Their coverage can be broadly similar because they use EE's underlying radio network, but their actual service is not necessarily identical. Think of the mast as the shared starting point. Your signal and speed also depend on the radio technology available to your provider, phone capability, distance and buildings, congestion, any published plan-level limit and the network features you can access.

Do not assume that every MVNO has lower network priority: there is no demonstrated universal UK rule applying to all EE-based brands. Equally, do not accept a promise of identical maximum speeds without evidence about the plan being compared. Our separate MVNO coverage and speeds guide explains the technical and evidence limits; the speed-cap explainer helps if a tariff specifies an Mbps limit.

How to check EE reception before you move

Use Ofcom's Map Your Mobile to inspect predicted 4G and 5G coverage where you live, work and regularly travel. Check indoor and outdoor predictions separately. Ofcom's wider performance scores are based on a postcode district, not a promised download speed at your door. The map may not predict what happens in one particular room or on your train.

If your EE signal is already poor at home, moving from EE to another brand using EE's masts is unlikely to fix a genuine local radio dead spot. Check O2, Vodafone and Three as alternative underlying networks, starting with all SIM-only deals once you've identified a better signal. If the problem is indoor calling rather than coverage outside, a candidate's compatible Wi-Fi Calling feature may make a difference, but it must be supported on your exact handset and SIM.

Before buying: the hidden differences that change value

Two SIM cards showing “EE network” may be difficult to distinguish from headline adverts alone. These are the questions that prevent the most expensive wrong choices.

1. The real payment schedule. If a hypothetical £5 first payment is followed by £10 on the next eleven calendar-month bills, the total is £115 over twelve bills, not £60. A separate £9-per-calendar-month plan is £108 over the same twelve bills — £7 less despite the higher starting price. These are calculations, not live tariff quotes. Also remember that twelve 30-day cycles cover only 360 days; continuous coverage for 365 days can require a thirteenth renewal. Compare equal time periods and include relevant contract price increases or activation charges.

2. What happens when you run out of data. Some bundles stop, require another purchase or charge from credit; policies differ. “Unlimited UK calls” also does not automatically include overseas numbers. Open Full plan details and check the actual tariff, not a marketing description of the brand.

3. Roaming versus international calls. A UK data allowance can be larger than the roaming fair-use cap. Calls from Britain to another country can be chargeable even when roaming in that country is included. If travel matters, compare SIM deals with EU roaming separately.

4. Phone and wearable compatibility. A 5G logo does not prove eSIM, 5G Standalone, Wi-Fi Calling or a companion cellular-watch service. Confirm each needed feature with the provider for your actual phone or watch model. If eSIM is a priority, filter our eSIM SIM-only deals.

5. How quickly you can leave. PAYG credit, a 30-day renewing bundle and a 12- or 24-month minimum term carry different obligations. A lower monthly figure can be worse value if you will need to leave early. More data than you use also has little practical value unless the larger tariff is genuinely cheaper.

Switching from EE to another EE-network provider

You normally can keep your UK mobile number when moving between different mobile providers even if both use EE infrastructure. You still need a regular provider switch — the shared masts do not make the two accounts interchangeable.

1. Choose the replacement plan based on local coverage, enough data, must-have features and total payments. Check your current contract's exit costs before ordering.
2. Request a PAC by texting PAC to 65075 from the UK number you want to keep. The code is normally valid for 30 days. Ofcom explains the process in its mobile-switching guidance.
3. Give the PAC to the new provider through its activation or switching process. Your old service should end when the number transfer completes; do not separately cancel your old SIM first if you need to keep that number.
4. Check calling, mobile data, voicemail and Wi-Fi Calling after the transfer. A change of retail provider can involve different account settings or handset compatibility even when the radio network is still EE-based.

If you want a new number instead of keeping the old one, Ofcom also explains the STAC option. If you are still inside a minimum term, a PAC does not remove any legitimate early-exit charge. For help estimating the right allowance before moving, use How Much Mobile Data Do I Need?.

Frequently asked questions

Which companies use EE's network in 2026?

Examples include 1pMobile, Lyca Mobile, spusu, Grade Mobile, Talk Home and Mozillion. ParentShield sells a specialist EE-only SIM alongside a different multi-network product. BT Mobile is available to eligible BT Broadband customers. Other EE-based examples include Utility Warehouse, Ecotalk and MobileCoop, which Ofcom still identifies by its previous name, Your Co-op Mobile. Our tracked deals cover EE, 1pMobile, Lyca and spusu; this is not a claim that every other brand currently has an offer in our catalogue.

Does 1pMobile use EE's network or own masts?

1pMobile uses EE's infrastructure; it is a separate retail mobile provider, not an EE-owned radio network. It sets its own prices, payment arrangements and customer-service policies. Our current 1pMobile offers are included in the comparison above.

Is Lyca Mobile on EE or O2?

Lyca Mobile uses EE in the UK. Its BT Wholesale partnership was announced in June 2023, replacing its earlier O2 arrangement. Check the particular Lyca plan for 5G, international calling and roaming eligibility; the host-network name alone does not establish those benefits.

Are spusu and EE the same company?

No. spusu sells its own plans using EE-based UK connectivity. It is not the same retail provider as EE, and its billing, roaming and feature terms can differ. See the spusu offers in our comparison above.

Does ParentShield always use EE?

No. ParentShield offers an EE Network Only SIM and a separate All-Network Roaming option that can use multiple UK mobile networks. If you specifically want EE coverage, check which ParentShield product you are considering. ParentShield isn't included in our selected EE SIM-only deals.

Can I still buy Plusnet Mobile?

No. Plusnet Mobile has closed. Plusnet's continuing broadband business and any associated EE offers are not the return of the old Plusnet Mobile service. Older lists naming Plusnet as EE-based are historical.

Is BT Mobile still available?

Yes, to eligible BT Broadband customers. BT relaunched a BT-branded mobile offer in May 2026, with current eligibility restricted to BT Broadband households. Do not confuse that limited offer with a general EE SIM open to all shoppers.

Is EE-network coverage identical on every MVNO?

Not guaranteed. These providers use EE-related radio infrastructure, so a similar 4G footprint is possible, but actual coverage, speed, access to newer 5G features, Wi-Fi Calling, roaming and device support can differ. Check the specific provider and plan at the places where you need it.

Which is the cheapest network using EE?

There is no permanent cheapest provider. The answer depends on the data you use, introductory price, renewal cost, billing period, contract length and eligible features. Compare the current EE-network offer cards and their verification dates rather than an old fixed-price ranking.

Can I switch from EE to Lyca or 1pMobile and keep my number?

Usually yes. Text PAC to 65075, supply the code to your chosen provider and allow the number-transfer process to complete. Check outstanding contract obligations; switching to another brand on EE's infrastructure is still a change of retail provider.

Bottom line: there are several ways to buy an EE-based UK SIM without buying an EE-branded tariff. The practical first shortlist is EE, 1pMobile, Lyca and spusu, because their selected current offers can be compared here. Wider network lists are useful for research, but only a confirmed live offer tells you what you can buy now. If EE coverage works well for you, compare your must-have features and the whole cost before choosing a replacement SIM.

Editorial information reviewed 21 October 2026. DealPriceCheck tracks selected UK offers, not every available tariff; network arrangements, prices and eligibility can change. Check each card's last-verified date and final terms before purchase. Some links may earn commission at no extra cost to you.