Bruce Dias 
There are similarities between most (if not all) mobile subscription service providers in Norway and many other places. These are especially places where the telecommunication sector is competitive, rather than monopolistic. Some of the similarities that many of these industry players share include:
- Offering basic vs advanced plans
- (Particularly) Prepaid plans
- Roaming packages
- The option of device financing
On the other hand, a few sovereign states still operate a monopolistic telecommunication sector with countries like Cuba and Ethiopia being prime examples. You can click here for insight into the situation in Ethiopia.
This article acknowledges the tricky nature of choosing the right mobile subscription plan, especially in a highly competitive market. The situation is usually more complex because of the similarities between service providers in these competitive markets.
Thankfully, there are helpful tips for choosing the perfect service provider and subscription plan. Read on to find out some of them.
Tips for Choosing the Perfect Mobile Subscription Plan
There are a few things that you should understand when choosing the right mobile subscription plan. Firstly, it is possible to select the right service provider but end up with the wrong plan. So, this emphasizes the importance of selecting the right plan, just as you should choose the right service provider.
Secondly, the right plan is significantly subjective. In simpler terms, what is good for someone else is not necessarily good for you, and vice versa. So, while there are outrightly below-par plans, some are good but not right for you.
By and large, you should be about choosing something that works best for you. Below are some helpful tips for achieving both the aforementioned:
Know How Much You Need
Your needs should determine your purchases. You should not get something that offers more or less than you need as that would amount to wastage or inadequacy, respectively.
So, take time to study and know your needs. Your area of focus should be on how much call time, data, and SMS is needed.
Coverage
Choosing a cheap plan is important but not all there is to making the right choice. It is about the perfect blend of cost and value.
Speaking of value, choose something that offers impressive network coverage. This is especially for those areas where you frequent. Your choice based on this yardstick is important because it determines how much quality you get from subscribing.
Come to mention it, this yardstick should be of major concern for people who are not based or usually situated in urban and/or densely populated areas. You can check mobilabonnement.com/mobilabonnement-test for more on this. However, the reason is largely because most network service providers invest more in urban and densely populated areas.
Of course, there are dedicated sections on websites and online platforms of service providers talking about network coverage stats. However, do not only rely on this information as word-of-mouth remarks from family, friends, neighbors, and colleagues should be taken more seriously.
Contract Length
There are two extremes when it comes to contract length. There are long-term, as opposed to short-term contracts. However, some fall somewhere in between both extremes.
These plans offer some of the benefits, as well as the downsides of both extremes. For example, some offer juicy benefits of long-term plans, as well as the flexibility of short-term plans.
The whole point established here is the need to know your options in the area of contract length and features. Furthermore, make informed decisions based on this knowledge and your needs.
Data Speed & Priority
Making your choice based on data speed is important because service quality largely depends on it. To this end, you should know that there are a couple of things that determine network speed.
Available infrastructure & network technology, as well as device capability, are prime examples. There is also an important place for network congestion.
Some network service providers have so many subscribers that traffic management policies have to be implemented in dealing with the situation. A major aspect of these policies is prioritizing certain subscribers over others.
Largely, this is dependent on the plan being subscribed to. For this reason, find out how prioritized subscription plans are before making your decision.
Also, on the subject of data speed, some service providers have data throttling policies. In simpler terms, this is about intentionally reducing a subscriber’s data speed under certain conditions. Usually, this happens when a subscriber has used purchased data to a certain extent.
For example, imagine that you purchase a 7 GB data plan. The throttling effect may be set for when you have used 6 GB of the purchased data. The network becomes slow at this point, even though it is still usable.
Find out if this applies to any of the plans you are considering. On the whole, ensure that you are fine with policies to this effect, especially if it does apply.
Cost
There are many good options for you out there. However, this is primarily about choosing the best/right one for you. For this reason, a lot of comparisons between options have to be made.
The cost factor should form one of the major yardsticks for comparing your options. On this note, here are a few things to consider:
- Activation Fees
- Additional Fees
- Binding Fees (if applicable)
- Special Promotions/Discounts
- Roaming Charges
By the way, some of the above-mentioned cost factors are more relevant for certain people than others. For example, people who do not travel abroad may not have to worry about how cheap or otherwise roaming charges are. Once again, this proves the importance of knowing your needs as a subscriber.
Customer Support
A good network service provider does its best to reduce the need for consultation with its customer service team. Be that as it may, there is still a need for a very proactive and helpful customer service team.
As a result, there should be lots of easy avenues for contacting the customer service team. Possible options include email, live chat, and phone calls.
Family/Group Plans
Speaking of understanding one’s needs before making a choice, some people need services that would not only benefit them but other people as well. This is why there is such a thing as family/group plans.
These plans are supposed to be a lot more budget-friendly than subscribing individually for everyone who would use the family/group plan. So, make sure of this if you need to subscribe to such a plan.
Furthermore, the fact that several people are supposed to use it should not compromise its quality. This is particularly true in the area of network signal and speed.
Transparency
Avoid network service providers and plans that are not transparent. You need to be well aware of whatever you are signing up for.
For the record, this should be more of a priority for those who subscribe to long-term plans. This is especially because of the binding clauses that usually apply.
Conclusion
By and large, there are tons of similarities between mobile network service providers. However, the details of their respective plans are one of the major distinctions between many of them, which explains the need to choose the right plan. Thankfully, a couple of helpful tips for making the perfect decision have been shared here and should be taken seriously.
