Amaysim Possible Network Change in 2016

jimbobaus on 03/09/2015 - 01:56

The info below is in relation to what has been pretty much in the public realm for some time now.

As those in the know, know Optus have been slowly re-negotiating all their MNVO contracts when they reach the end.
These re-negotiations resulted in Woolworths mobile going bye bye until it was re-launched using Telstra's 3G network recently with a much less attractive plan

So it seems in early 2016, it will be Amaysim, TPG Mobile and iiNet mobile's turn to re-negotiate their terms

On The Sky Business channel on September 2nd the CEO of Amaysim was asked directly about this and (i am paraphrasing here) he said:

While Amaysim has had an amazing partnership with Optus, as it currently stands Optus have indicated they would not be able to offer Amaysim customers the kind of value they have expected in the past. We would love to remain a long term partner with Optus but our customers have to come first, We have had preliminary discussions with Vodafone Hutchison Australia and we are confident that regardless of the outcome with Optus in March 2016 when our current arrangement ends we feel that we will continue to offer the best value plans in the market.

I am interested to know from people who use Amaysim, if they switched to Voda would you remain a customer?

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Comments

  • felipe1982 on 03/09/2015 - 07:57
    +2

    I would remain a customer so long as my experience doesn't change. Bonds moved production to China, but my toes still love their socks. TPG also resells optus and I would never again use them for mobile! I've had nothing but good experiences with Amaysim.

  • Showmethebargains on 03/09/2015 - 08:25

    I would have to leave Amaysim because Voda has terrible coverage in our area.

  • goosmurf on 03/09/2015 - 09:20
    +1

    I'd definitely switch away from Amaysim.

    Vodafone is fine in metro areas but they don't have coverage in one of my favourite holiday spots.

    But I don't really think Amaysim is going to switch away from Optus. Suspect it's just a negotiating tactic.

    Amaysim's Network Services Agreement with Optus was only just renegotiated in December 2014 for a term of 5 years with option of an additional 5 year extension.

    Part of the agreement involves annual review of pricing, with the option for either party to each call an additional review if "if reasonably believes there is a significant change in the 4G BYO plans offered by MNOs in the Australian Mobile Services market" (section 3.7.6).

    That said, Optus has been very aggressive with its pricing recently which is causing problems for its MVNOs so maybe that's why Amaysim is making noises.

    But realistically the two parties need each other - imagine the hole in Optus' finances if 700-800k services migrate out? Amaysim represents roughly 10% of Optus' mobile services.

    Whilst I'm commenting, maybe of interest to Ozbargainers is that Amaysim added 99k subscribers in FY15 to end the year with 718k susbcribers. They've told the market they want to get to 875k in FY16, i.e. +157k subscribers.

    If you're wondering why they're constantly throwing out promos…

    It's a good time to be a mobile consumer, bad time to be an Amaysim shareholder. ;)

    • jimbobaus on 03/09/2015 - 11:35

      I did get the feeling from the interview that it was a bit like he was throwing down the gauntlet for a better deal from optus

  • battler on 03/09/2015 - 09:21

    i would consider porting into Amaysim, VF has best coverage for my areas of need (current VF & Lebara user).
    Whilst coverage is worse in remote areas, for the few days a year I am there I can probably live without - will probably enjoy my holiday better!

  • [Deactivated] on 03/09/2015 - 09:51
    +1

    I wonder if this is going to mess with people that don't have the proper bands on their phones.

    Optus -> Telstra/Vodafone is a different band. Especially if it gets downgraded from 4G to 3G only.

  • chonghe on 03/09/2015 - 11:01

    Amaysim user here, unlikely to change as long as the network coverage is not affected.
    Never used Vodafone before, is it really that bad?

    • [Deactivated] on 03/09/2015 - 11:40
      +2

      Only in regional areas.
      Metropolitan areas would likely have just as decent Vodafone network coverage as that provided by Optus and Telstra.

      (Although, Telstra fanbois would likely disagree).

  • ESEMCE on 03/09/2015 - 12:24

    I thought Voda had a tower sharing agreement with Optus now that has improved their regional coverage to match Optus?

  • AssociatedLayo @ amaysim on 05/09/2015 - 11:33
    -3

    Yeah you need to check your facts…this is speculation at best and trolling at worst.
    They have a strong agreement with Optus and are not going anywhere.

    • jimbobaus on 05/09/2015 - 23:23
      +4

      My facts are based on an interview with the CEO i watched LIVE on Sky Business (foxtel) that i have seen REPEATED 3 times since,

      And as to the comment above regarding the re-negotiation.

      Amaywsim contract with Optus def ends March 31 2016

      Maybe you are the one who is trolling… signing up to OzB 1 hour before commenting

  • Clarky77 on 15/09/2015 - 23:05

    I guess I'd have to at least give it a try for a month or so, but unless Vodafone's really improved their coverage I'd probably leave! I was w' koganMOBILE then ALDImobile(both Telstra Wholesale) until they hiked the price & slashed the data quota. AmaySim might not be quite as fast as they were(before heaps of people joined & congested i guess)it's definitely more than adequate & I've found it's only got better over time (not including 4g which is a bonus)! Woolworths Connect(Telstra Wholesale) is no where near as fast as it was in early days of Kogan/Aldi & isn't even unlimited, so unless Boost increases their data allowance there's no other good Telstra MVNO option? If they switched to Vodafone there's cheaper options (Lebara ect)? If anyone at AmaySim is listening is say do everything you can within reason to stay on Optus & if not Telstra(NextG not Wholesale)! Vodafone please don't!

    I'd rather lose a bit of data say 5gb down to 3.5gb would be preferable to a Voda switch or price increase! Surely we've passed price increases by know?

    We should be heading towards quotas on 4g then unlimited 3g/hspa after that!! Prepaid offers shrinking & getting more expensive should be done with?? If it does happen let's hope another player moves in to tighten the competition!

    Vodafone… Please No!!

  • [Deactivated] on 17/09/2015 - 22:34
    +1

    By one means or another, most scary 'vodafail' era blackspots and network capacity issues have been attended to, reputedly. A bit of personal experience here and there that leads me to actually believe that. Sufficient such that if Amaysim jump onboard (and customers hang around for a bit), I reckon that many/most might get a pleasant surprise - not least in relation to basic network stability issues, which Optus seem to always struggle a bit with.

    If any genuinely serious (as opposed to 'impression strategy') discussions with Vodafone have taken place, those would no doubt have been contingent upon Vodafone opening up more than just its 3G network to resellers. Thus far, that hasn't happened.

    Most (not all, but most) people worried about support for Vodafone frequencies on their current phones, will probably be ok for that most part.

    Vodafone 3G runs (in most places) on the same 900MHz and 2100MHz as Optus, though 850MHz in outer surburbs and regional (and also former-blackspot areas closer to CBD's).

    Vodafone 4G runs mainly on the same 1800MHz (Band 3) as Optus (and Telstra) use.
    Vodafone, however (a cost-cutting exercise for a network in strife) didn't purchase any 700MHz spectrum when it went up for auction and have instead 'refarmed' a chunk of their 850MHz allocation for greater distance-coverage 4G use.

    If a changeover to Voda actually happens, initially Dismaysim'd customers (should I coin that? nah), who want full frequency support on their phones, need (in addition to others mentioned above) that just mentioned 850MHz support. So…

    3G (/WCDMA /UMTS) 850MHz & 4G (/FDD-LTE) 850 (Band 5) are the numbers, letters, to look for in any phone specs for The…

    Possible, Scary, Dystopian, Vodafonian, Amaysimian (should I coin..? nah) Future.

  • [Deactivated] on 22/09/2015 - 10:25

    Also.. Not many phones support VoLTE.

    So having the correct 3G bands on cheap phones is basically essential. The days of buying a phone to use on another network seem to be vanishing.

    Most of the subsidised handsets including ZTE fit smart probably won't work at all even if 4G is enabled for Telstra wholesale by June 2016. 2G will be gone

  • [Deactivated] on 30/09/2015 - 12:28

    Well. Another MVNO is moving away from Optus to Vodafone. TPG confirmed in the newspapers today.

    I suspect with a major cash infusion from new customers, that Vodafone could possibly become a better network than even Telstra, if they keep expanding their network.

  • dazza826 on 18/02/2016 - 12:27

    Was considering changing from Boost to Amaysim. I'm glad I read this first as if they change to VF I will stay with Boost or go with Optus prepaid. VF has no reception in my town.

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