5G Three router after contract cancellation locked or unlocked

[paugan1992]

hi I just canceled my three broadband contract because the connection has been terrible for the last 3 months, looks like they removed local 5G mast nearby. I intend to keep the router though cause it will only cost me 105£ but I am not 100% sure if it won’t be blocked for other networks after the contract finishes? I tried vodafone and EE sims and they work fine at the moment but someone recently told me that they lock the router after the contract is done, even if you pay the 105£ fee. 

[PeteG · Accepted solution]

Hello there. 

Keeping the Hub after the contract term has passed will not result in it being locked. Some older hubs had a lock on them, and it's likely those users who experienced issues using other SIMs.

Pete.

[JD417]

I have a ZTE MC801A which is also coming to the end of a two year contract. I took was thinking of paying the £105 to keep the router but when I tried an EE SIM in it I got a no network signal. Is this router one of the locked types?

[JonathanB]

Hi @JD417,

I'm not aware of the ZTE models being locked, the last locked device was the Huawei router we supplied prior to that one. Is the EE SIM picking up service in another device in the same location?

Thanks,
Jonathan

[JD417]

Hi. Yes, the EE sim did work in a different device at the same location. I also got the same results using a Vodafone sim.

[PeteG]

If you put a SIM card into the Hub, and then log into the Admin page, it should tell you the status of the SIM and network in there, which would let you know if it's locked. If it is locked, you'd need to request for it to be unlocked by the Support Team. 

Pete.

[JD417]

Hi. I've put a iD Mobile (uses the three network) SIM in the router & it is now working. I've looked through the admin settings but can't find anything to indicate whether the router is locked or not.

[PeteG]

It sounds like it might be locked then. You'll need to make the request with the team to get it unlocked. 

Pete.