Honest Mobile
Honest Mobile is a mobile virtual network operator (MVNO) based in the United Kingdom. Founded in 2018 by Andy Aitken and Josh Mihill, the company is known for its focus on sustainability, customer loyalty, and the use of new eSIM technology. Their primary service currently operates on the Three UK network infrastructure.
HistoryHonest Mobile was incorporated in July 2018[1] by Andy Aitken and Joshua Mihill.[2] The company has raised funding from a mix of traditional venture capital and crowdfunding. In April 2023, it closed a £3 million funding round from investors, including DMG Ventures and Wayra UK.[3] The company has also run multiple crowdfunding campaigns on platforms such as Seedrs and Crowdcube, inviting customers to invest in the business. A campaign in 2023 on Seedrs raised over £1.9 million from more than 1,200 investors.[4][5] Services and OperationsHonest Mobile provides SIM-only mobile plans for consumers. The company's business model includes a loyalty discount that offers a reduction in the monthly bill for customers the longer they stay with the service.[6] The network operates as an MVNO using the infrastructure of Three UK. In addition to its standard SIMs, the company offers a "Smart SIM", a data-only eSIM that provides access to the four major UK networks: EE, O2, Vodafone and Three UK, as a backup to a user's main SIM.[7] The Smart SIM is designed to provide connectivity for a limited number of "essential" applications, such as for navigation, messaging, and banking, and also includes free global roaming for these applications in over 180 countries.[8][9] The company also offers plastic-free eSIMs for its standard plans.[10] Sustainability and CertificationsHonest Mobile has received recognition for its focus on sustainability. In 2022, it was certified as a B Corp, becoming the first mobile network in the UK to achieve this status.[11][12] The company states that it is a "carbon-negative" business, claiming to remove more carbon dioxide than it emits. It is a member of the 1% for the Planet initiative, pledging to donate 1% of its revenue to environmental non-profit organizations.[13] The company has also been positively rated by The Good Shopping Guide for its ethical practices.[14] ReceptionHonest Mobile has generally received positive reviews from customers and technology publications, with a Trustpilot score of "Excellent."[15] Reviewers from sources like Which? and 4G.co.uk have praised the company's commitment to sustainability and its loyalty discount model, which contrasts with the annual price increases common across the industry.[16][17] However, some criticism has also been noted. Honest Mobile offers a limited number of plans, and its lower-data packages are considered more expensive than those of competing MVNOs.[17] The network's reliance on the Three UK infrastructure means that while data speeds are often fast, coverage can be inconsistent in rural areas or indoors.[17][18] Additionally, while the company's "Smart SIM" provides multi-network access, some reviews have pointed out that it only activates when there is a complete loss of signal, and it is limited to a pre-defined list of applications.[19] References
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