It’s been coming for quite some time, but today marks the official launch of Sky Mobile in Ireland. You will be able to buy both phones and SIM-only plans from Sky. Here’s all the info you need to know about Ireland’s newest network along with the questions you’re all asking.
Sky Mobile Launches in Ireland
Right now, you can buy Sky Mobile plans and phones directly from Sky online or from their retail booths nationwide. To celebrate the launch, Sky Mobile is offering a “Price for Life” offer of €15 per month for Unlimited calls, texts and 5G data. Sky has confirmed to me this will be a limited-time offer for launch only, so get it if you’re interested.
This introductory price point doesn’t make Sky Mobile Ireland’s best SIM-only deal. 48 still holds that title. However, the fact that Sky Mobile runs on Vodafone might be interesting if you have poor Three/48 coverage in your area. So if you’re wondering what Sky Mobile’s coverage is like, well it’s like Vodafone.
Why Network Does Sky Mobile Use?
Sky does not have its own network infrastructure here in Ireland. This meant it needs to piggyback on another network as a Mobile Virtual Network Operator (MVNO). Ireland has several MVNOs operating on existing networks already and it’s very common. Sky Mobile will leverage Vodafone’s network here in Ireland.
| Network | Infrastructure |
| Eir | Eir |
| Three | Three |
| Vodafone | Vodafone |
| 48 | Three |
| An Post Mobile | Vodafone |
| Clearmobile | Vodafone |
| Gomo | Eir |
| Lycamobile | Three |
| Sky | Vodafone |
| Tesco Mobile | Three |
Overall, this is good news for customers as Vodafone boasts one of Ireland’s strongest networks with 99% nationwide 4G coverage and 5G across the country. Call quality should be excellent too given 4G calling is included as standard for all Sky Mobile customers.
Does Sky Mobile Sell Phones?
Yes. Nearly all of them. Sky Mobile is launching with nearly all the brands you’d expect from Samsung to Xiaomi and Nokia lookalike HMD. Given we’re in the season of iPhone launches, you might notice one glaring omission which doesn’t leave me overly surprised.
Sky Mobile is launching in Ireland without selling Apple iPhone themselves. Apple is notoriously difficult for new networks to deal with and need copious amounts of sign off. Unfortunately, this means Sky Mobile will not be selling iPhone at launch. However, the network has confirmed to me that a network unlocked iPhone will work without issue on Sky Mobile.
Buying a phone with any network over buying direct from manufacturer is usually a bad deal. Just check our bill pay versus prepay calculator before you buy anything. I do have to give kudos to Sky Mobile here for being a little different.
If you do want to buy a phone from Sky Mobile you have two transparent options. You can either buy the phone outright from day one, or enter into a 24 or 36 month agreement with 0% APR. This could become one of the most transparent and cost effective ways to buy phones in Ireland; but give me time to look at everything more closely!
Director of Sky Mobile, Aideen Chambers says, “transparency and fairness are at Sky Mobile’s core and splitting customer’s bills between their airtime plan and handset costs was hugely important to us in launching our mobile offering”.
At the launch, Sky commented that research shows many Irish networks gladly leave customers on higher plans even after the phone has been paid off, with Sky Mobile’s new model side stepping this. Chambers continues, “once your handset has been paid for, your bill will automatically reduce, and you will only pay for your airtime. Everything within the Sky Mobile offering is designed with a customer-first approach. We all use our handsets differently and Sky Mobile has the flexibility to meet everyone’s needs”.
Additional Sky Mobile Benefits
Sky Mobile customers will be able to reduce their spend in certain months by dropping the amount of data in their plans. This will be managed in the My Sky app.
Customers are keeping phones longer than ever. I’m guessing that’s why Sky’s purchase plans are either 24 or 36 months. But, if you do like keeping the latest phone on the market in your pocket, Sky will help. You can swap your phone for the latest model a year before your contract ends at no extra cost. But it’s not as good as it sounds. You have to pay off the remaining balance on your device. Sky Mobile is still a business, not a charity!
Finally, a feature called Piggybank promises to reward loyalty. You’ll be able to share data with family and friends, get discounts on new handsets, along with various other rewards including return European flights, cinema tickets and more.
Are Sky Mobile Phones Unlocked?
Sky Mobile phones are almost certainly unlocked so you’ll be able to use any network with them. I can’t absolutely confirm this just yet, but this is how Sky Mobile UK operates. Once confirmed, I’ll say for sure but it’s unusual for Sky Mobile UK and Ireland to have different policies like this. However…
Is Sky Mobile UK and Sky Mobile Ireland the Same?
No. They are technically different entities. Naturally they are separate entities with the same parent company. Sky Mobile Ireland has hired staff for the Irish business, but I would wager that they do lean on the UK business for some things, including possibly, supply chain.
Can You Use Sky Mobile Abroad?
Yes. Sky mobile will work the same as any other Irish network abroad. Handy for when you go traveling. Sky has said that “customers will also have access to worldwide roaming services, available in over 150 countries and Sky Mobile’s Roam Like Home service will be available in 44 countries including the UK and EU”.
I do recommend you give Sky’s customer care a shout before you go. Just to make sure all your settings are in order.
Is Sky Mobile Any Good?
This remains to be seen. The €15 per month offer would have been really aggressive a few years ago, but now it’s nearly a standard price in this space. It’s a clever move from Sky Mobile to hoover up customers now in the hope they’ll want phones in the next year or two. The way Sky sells phones is exactly what the Irish mobile market needs.
This is the same model iD Mobile launched with a few years ago, but poor communications and general confusion led to that, and eventually Carphone Warehouse in general, failing. Keeping the cost of the phone separate and spread out over a long period of time with 0% APR should be a great route to new phones, assuming Sky Mobile gets the pricing right. And that they hopefully get iPhone before too long too.
Most importantly, competition is good for consumers and Sky Mobile should be a real cat amongst the pigeons, doing for phone and plan packages together, what Gomo did for SIM-only.
If you have any questions you’d like answered about Sky Mobile, find us on social, drop a comment and we’ll get back to you.
