Vodafone has launched SuperMobile, a new premium mobile package that offers faster speeds, more reliable performance and more security than standard packages.
The service is powered by VodafoneThree’s 5G+ network and promises speeds up to four times faster than standard plans, as well as a guaranteed minimum download speed.
The launch comes just over a year after the Vodafone-Three merger, VodafoneThree is positioning SuperMobile to move away from mobile packages that compete primarily on price. It is also part of the company’s wider £11bn investment in its UK network over eight years.
SuperMobile uses Vodafone’s new 5G+ FastTrack technology, designed to maintain higher performance for activities such as streaming, live TV, gaming and immersive media, even when the network is busy. According to Vodafone, the service is the first from a mobile network operator worldwide to guarantee a minimum download speed of 15 Mbps. If customers do not receive this minimum, they can exit the plan without paying a fee.
Security is another part of the package. In addition to Secure Net Mobile, SuperMobile also includes 5G encryption, which provides protection against malware and viruses, identity protection, fraud protection and network-level parental controls at no extra cost.
How much does it cost?
For existing contract customers, SuperMobile costs £3 more per month than the full-speed Xtra plan£8 SIM-only plans over 100Mbps and £4 mobile plans over 100Mbps.
There is also a rolling monthly option which costs £12. The service can be used by small businesses employing up to nine people, and larger businesses can receive customized packages with specific performance obligations.
VodafoneThree says its residential 5G+ coverage has increased from 46% to 60% since the merger, and the company aims to reach 99.96% coverage by 2034.
For businesses, Vodafone has also introduced the National Business Slice, which provides organizations with capacity separated from consumer traffic. According to Vodafone, this can deliver up to four times faster speeds with committed performance targets. A national critical slice of emergency services and other critical public services is planned for next year.
With SuperMobile, Vodafone is essentially offering customers the option to pay more for a higher priority mobile connection, rather than simply buying more data. Whether that extra performance is worth the premium depends largely on how consistently FastTrack delivers on its promised benefits in busy areas.
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