Every provider offers a subscription for your iPhone. This does not make choosing any easier. iPhone explains what to look out for when choosing a provider, so that you will not be faced with surprises afterwards.
Choosing an iPhone Provider: you should pay attention to this
Choosing a new mobile provider is quite a job. There are many different parties active in our country, all of which have their own prices and conditions. However, they all offer the same basically: national coverage for calling, texting and 4G internet.
In addition, faster forms such as 4G + are becoming increasingly popular, although not all providers can yet deliver these speeds throughout the country. If you live in the countryside, this is probably of little use to you. In addition, not all smartphones can handle 4G +. It is therefore a shame to pay extra for it if you cannot use it.
In this checklist you can read what you should pay attention to when switching to another provider. Do you already have a subscription that meets your needs? Then check out the best iPhone deals of the moment. With our price comparator you can easily and quickly find the best iPhone deal for you.
1. How is reception in your region?
What good is an iPhone without range? Right. The first step in looking for a suitable provider is therefore to check how good the range is. In general, there are no significant problems throughout the Netherlands. This is due to the large number of transmission towers in our country.
Reception is also generally good in the border regions. However, it may be that there is a difference in range between the inside and outside of a building. This means that you have coverage when you are on the phone near the window of your bedroom, but not when you are in the bathroom. The best way to check this is to walk around your house, or another place where you often go, and see how many lines of reception you have.
All major providers in the Netherlands have a coverage map in which you can see whether you have coverage in your place of residence. You can also check how fast you have internet (4G or 4G +). Do not forget to check how reception is at places you visit often, such as your work.
- Coverage map KPN: Robin Mobile, Simyo, Youfone and Telfort also use the KPN network.
- Coverage map Tele2
- Coverage map T-Mobile: Ben and Simpel also use the T-Mobile network.
- Coverage map Vodafone: Dutch new customers also call, text and use the internet via the Vodafone network.
2. Do you need 4G +?
Mobile internet with 4G speed is now the norm. It is expected that we will not switch to 5G until after 2020, so 4G + will be the fastest connection until then. Of the ‘big four’, T-Mobile is the only one with a nationwide 4G + network, with KPN and Vodafone you are only assured of the fastest internet connection in medium to large cities. Think of places like Amersfoort, Breda, Den Bosch and Leeuwarden.
4G + is lightning fast. Within 1 second you turn on a Spotify song and an average YouTube video starts playing immediately as soon as you press the button. ‘Normal’ 4G is twice as slow as the plus version, although the question is whether you will really notice the difference.
Providers like to advertise with maximum speeds that are difficult to achieve in practice. For example, you can achieve speeds of 225 and 250 Mbit / s on the 4G + networks of T-Mobile and Vodafone, but the average fluctuates between 70 and 75 Mbit / s. The speed depends on which model of iPhone you have, where you live and whether you are inside or outside.
The most important thing is to check in advance whether you actually need 4G +, and whether your smartphone can handle it. You can use this from the iPhone 6S (Plus). This means that you can use the internet via 4G + with the following iPhones:
- iPhone 6S and iPhone 6S Plus
- iPhone 7 and iPhone 7 Plus
- iPhone 8 and iPhone 8 Plus
- iPhone X
- iPhone XS and iPhone XS Max
- iPhone XR
3. Do you often go abroad?
Since June 2017 there are no longer any roaming charges within the European Union. As a result, Europeans can make unlimited calls and use the internet in other EU countries without any additional costs. Please note: this only applies when you are abroad, not the other way around. In other words: calling abroad from the Netherlands is still expensive.
In addition, there are some conditions attached to the new law. For example, you may not be abroad for longer than four months, because you would then burden your provider in the Netherlands with extra costs. These are the main rules of the largest providers.
KPN
With KPN you call, text and internet within the EU just like you do in the Netherlands. You can also share MBs with each other. Please note: this does not apply when you are on an airplane, ferry or cruise ship. At that time you pay the so-called ‘satellite’ or ‘maritime’ rate and you can pay up to 10 euros per MB. All providers from this list work with this high rate for when you are on the water or in the air.
You also have to be careful that you only call, text messages and internet from your bundle in member states of the European Union. Turkey and Aruba, for example, are not included. When your MBs are used up, your internet speed will be automatically adjusted downwards. To be able to use the internet at 4G speed, you have to purchase a separate bundle. This costs at least 2.99 euros and you will receive a combined package of 250 call minutes, text messages or MBs.
Tele2
With Tele2 you call, text and internet in addition to all EU countries, also in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, as you are used to in the Netherlands. The provider applies a ‘Fair Use’ policy to prevent network overload.
This means that if you have an Unlimited subscription, you can use up to 9GB of internet abroad. After this, you pay 0.007 euros per MB. Even if you have an internet subscription of 10 or 20 GB, you can use a maximum of 9 GB within the EU. Do you have a data bundle of 2 or 5 GB? Then you can use all GBs within the borders of our continent.
For all packages, when your bundle is used up, the internet connection of your phone is automatically lost. You must then purchase additional MBs to stay online. You spend 3 euros for 100 MB.
T-Mobile
With T-Mobile you can also use your normal bundle throughout the EU, Iceland and Norway at no extra cost. Your internet speed will automatically decrease as soon as you run out of your bundle. At that moment you buy an ‘Additional’ to continue using the internet on 4G (if available at your destination). Such a package costs at least 2.50 euros.
Just like with Tele2, it differs per subscription how much you can use the internet abroad. If you have a Stel Samen & Stel Bij package, you can use 26GB per month within the EU. With a Go Unlimited subscription this is 10GB.
Vodafone
Vodafone has the largest 4G network in Europe, which means you can use your bundle in Turkey at no extra cost in addition to the standard EU countries. Please note: if you go through your subscription with Vodafone, you immediately pay the out-of-bundle rate: your internet speed will therefore not be reduced.
By the way, people with a Red subscription receive a gift. They can make free calls to other EU countries for 100 minutes per month. This fun does not apply to people with a Start subscription.
If you have run out of GBs, you can purchase an extra data package. You pay 7.50 for 1GB data, which makes Vodafone relatively cheap compared to the other providers.
Are you often found outside our continent? Then the prices to remain accessible vary widely. In general, KPN and Vodafone have relatively low rates for individual call minutes, text messages and MBs, while the costs with virtual providers can increase considerably.
At hollandsnieuwe, for example, you pay 1.27 euros a minute to call the Netherlands from the United States, while KPN ‘but‘Is 1 euro. In addition, you can purchase an ‘Extra bundle’ from the latter provider, which means that you can also call, text and internet with a discount outside the EU. Vodafone also offers such a package with ‘Alles in 1 Wereld XL’.
4. How high are the connection costs?
The amount of the connection costs differ per provider. Sometimes you have to pay 30 euros with your subscription, with other providers you don’t lose anything. The costs are one-off, but keep in mind when choosing a provider.
If we look at the ‘big four’, it is striking that KPN charges EUR 25 connection costs and EUR 5.69 home copy levy for each subscription. The latter amount was established by law in 2018 and compensates artists for copies of copyrighted material for private use. You pay the home copy levy not only for CDs and DVDs, but also when you buy an iPhone.
With Vodafone you do not pay any connection costs, but you do pay EUR 5.69 home copying tax. Tele2 charges EUR 30 connection costs and EUR 5.70 home copying levy. T-Mobile charges a one-time fee of 25 euros to connect you to the network, in addition to the standard 5.69 euros home copy levy.
5. What about cancellation?
If you take out a 1- or 2-year subscription, you will have to wait this period before you can cancel the subscription. After the contract period you can cancel monthly with most providers.
If you forget to cancel before the end of the contract period, your contract may not simply be tacitly renewed for the same period. The subscription is usually continued on a monthly basis. Please note: tacit conversion of the subscription into one without a fixed end date is allowed.
Don’t want to be tied to a subscription for so long? Then choose a SIM only. You can also take out these monthly in addition to the 1- and 2-year subscriptions. With such a monthly subscription you obviously pay a little more, but you get a lot of flexibility in return. For example, if providers stunt with affordable subscriptions, you reap the benefits.
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