Vodafone has launched SuperMobile, a new premium mobile plan designed to offer faster speeds, more reliable performance and added security over its standard plans.
The service is powered by VodafoneThree’s 5G+ network and promises speeds of up to four times faster than standard plans, along with a guaranteed minimum download speed.
The launch comes just over a year after the Vodafone-Three merger, with VodafoneThree positioning SuperMobile as a move away from mobile plans that primarily compete on price. It’s also part of the company’s wider £11bn, eight-year investment in its UK network.
SuperMobile uses Vodafone’s new 5G+ FastTrack technology, which is designed to maintain higher performance for activities such as streaming, live TV, gaming and immersive media, even when the network is busy. Vodafone says the service is the first globally from a mobile network operator to guarantee a minimum download speed of 15Mbps. If customers don’t receive that minimum, they can leave the plan without paying a fee.
Security is another part of the package. SuperMobile includes 5G encryption alongside Secure Net Mobile, which provides protection against malware and viruses, identity protection, scam call protection and network-level parental controls at no extra cost.
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How much does it cost?
For existing contract customers, SuperMobile costs £3 per month more than full-speed Xtra plans, £8 more than 100Mbps SIM-only plans and £4 more than 100Mbps handset plans.
There’s also a rolling monthly option costing £12. The service is available to small businesses with up to nine employees, while larger enterprises can get tailored packages with specific performance commitments.
VodafoneThree says its 5G+ population coverage has grown from 46% to 60% since the merger, with the company targeting 99.96% coverage by 2034.
For businesses, Vodafone has also introduced a National Business Slice, which gives organisations dedicated capacity separate from consumer traffic. Vodafone says this can deliver up to four times faster speeds with committed performance targets. A National Critical Slice for emergency services and other critical public services is planned for next year.
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With SuperMobile, Vodafone is essentially offering customers the option to pay more for a higher-priority mobile connection rather than simply buying more data. Whether that extra performance is worth the premium will depend largely on how consistently FastTrack delivers its promised benefits in busy areas.