topic Re: Prepaid data SIM status in Network

Prepaid data SIM status

shellsroof — Wed, 22 Oct 2025 16:18:21 GMT

For several years, I've used prepaid 3 data SIMs, e.g. 24GB over 24 months, discarding and replacing at expiry. This sort of thing: https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3342985

As far as I can see, these haven't been listed on the main Three website for several years (possibly not since they were called "Internet with Legs"), but have remained available via, e.g. Amazon or Argos.

Is there a support page for prepaid data SIMs? Are the terms and conditions online?

I suspect, or at least am afraid, that, due to the march of progress, the next time I buy one, it'll need to be converted to an eSIM. I'm trying to gauge if that's not an option, or even if Three will immediately cancel the SIM as indicating a breach of Ts & Cs on request.

Re: Prepaid data SIM status

MichaelP — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 13:57:51 GMT

Hi @shellsroof,

Thanks for reaching out here.

Three doesn't directly now offer the prepaid SIM that you've shared, but it may be available with third parties, subject to stock.

Three's current PAYG Data SIM offers can be found on the Three website. You'll be able to see that there is variation in how long the packs last for.

Terms and Conditions for PAYG can also be accessed here.

You also won't be obliged to take an eSIM 😊 The SIM would be provided as a physical SIM, but you'll also have the option to switch to an eSIM, if this is ever a preference.

Customer Services would be happy to help you with that.

Thanks,
Michael

Re: Prepaid data SIM status

shellsroof — Thu, 23 Oct 2025 18:25:29 GMT

Thanks.

That's a bit of a shame: the 24GB over 24 months was as much data as I needed. But I guess that SIM will probably be in Argos for a while longer and I'll be able to buy one more replacement.

Probably of interest to no one, but my question about the Ts & Cs was because I think there used, many years ago, to be a term that a data SIM couldn't be used in a phone, but it was a term that was never enforced by Three. But if I converted to an eSIM, it might be too obvious to ignore that it was in a phone. I don't see any such term in the current Ts & Cs in any case. (I've always had dual physical SIM phones in the past, but those look like they may be difficult to find in the UK now, so I'd need one of my SIMs to be an eSIM.)

Re: Prepaid data SIM status

JonathanB — Fri, 24 Oct 2025 09:57:36 GMT

Hi @shellsroof,

There's no current restrictions on using a data only SIM in a phone, other than you won't have a minutes/messaging allowance of course. And from a technical point of view a dedicated MiFI or Router may be better than say hotspotting from a phone (in terms of connection quality and battery life).

Hope this helps,
Jonathan