If you want to make the most of your data allowances, ensure your data never goes to waste. This can be done by considering a data rollover plan designed to carry over the unused data to the next month.
On monthly and PAYG plans, you will get a specific allowance valid for the whole month. By the end of each month, the unused data allowances normally expire if you don’t have one. The unused data, minutes, and texts will be removed from your account if you’ve chosen one such method.
Mobile network operators have started to roll over unused data into the following month. For example, if you’ve subscribed to a 20 GB plan, but your consumption was 15 GB only. The remaining allowance would be rolled over to the next month, giving you a second chance to use the allowance you’ve paid for.
Without further ado, let’s jump straight to how the data gets rolled over. Moreover, we’ll also examine the terms and conditions of how long your data lasts and how much you can carry over.
Table of Contents
What is Carryover Data or Data Rollover?
In simple terms, it means your unused data rolls over from one month to another. This is limited to specific networks that provide this service.
On networks that don’t have this service, you’ll lose your unused data, meaning you may end up paying a lot more than you use.
The service also allows you to plan ahead. For example, if you know you’ve got heavy usage next month, you can use less the month before to ensure you’ve enough allowance for next month.
Also Read: Should I Leave Mobile Data on all the Time – User Guide 2023
Recommended Networks
Pay Monthly
ID Mobile, sky Mobile, and virgin mobile offer data rollover on a monthly contract. Similarly, Smarty offers a discount of £1 per gigabyte. For some users, this money-back offer is better because it is credited back into their accounts.
On iD and Virgin mobile, data can only be rolled over for one month. In contrast, Sky Mobile allows you to store unused data for up to 3 years.
Talk Home Mobile is expected to launch its data rollover offer for the monthly plan soon, allowing its customers to roll over their data to the next month. This feature will enable the users to save money from being wasted to use it to their advantage.
Pay As You Go
EE, O2, and Vodafone currently offer data rollover. In addition to data, Vodafone allows you to roll over unused minutes and texts as part of their total rollover offer.
Gifgaf doesn’t allow you to roll over your unused data, but being a customer for three months, you can get an extra 1 GB monthly. This often works out to be a better value than relying on data rollover.
Talk Home Mobile is expected to launch its data rollover offer for Pay as you go customers. This will allow the customers to roll over their unused data to the next month. This feature will enable the users to save money from being wasted to use it to their advantage.
Additionally, the service provider offers data discounts instead of data rollovers. One example of such a discount is double data for the customers who port in their numbers to Talk Home Mobile.
The service on pay-as-you-go is available if you automatically renew your bundle upon the expiry of the previous one. This means you shouldn’t have a gap between the end of one bundle and the start of the next. EE is an exception to this, allowing you to have a gap of up to 7 days between the two bundles before the rollover data is lost.
Overview of Data Rollover by Network
The table below shows an overview of mobile networks and price plans you can use with data rollover.
| Mobile Network | Pay Monthly | Pay-as-you-go |
|---|---|---|
| Talk Home Mobile | NO | – |
| ASDA Mobile | – | No |
| BT Mobile | No | – |
| EE | No | Yes, on Packs & Flex. |
| Giffgaff | – | No, but 1GB extra data after three months. |
| iD Mobile | Yes | No |
| Lebara Mobile | – | No |
| Lyca Mobile | – | No |
| O2 | No | Yes, on Big Bundles. |
| Plusnet Mobile | No | – |
| Sky Mobile | Yes | – |
| SMARTY | Yes, unused data discount. | – |
| Tesco Mobile | No | No |
| Three | No | No |
| Virgin Mobile | Yes | No |
| Vodafone | No | Yes, on Big Value Bundles. |
| VOXI | No | No |
Data Rollover by Network
Several UK networks have recognized data rollover’s value and incorporated it into their mobile plans. Let’s take a closer look at some of the leading networks offering this feature:
EE
The Vibe: Rollover, but you have to keep up your streak.
The Deal: EE lets you roll your unused data into your next monthly plan, but there are a few rules. You need to be on a 30-day plan and remember to buy your next data bundle within a week of the old one ending. Do that, and your leftover data will be waiting for you. Just remember, it’s a “use it or lose it” deal—the rolled-over data expires with your next bundle.
Giffgaff
The Vibe: Your data gets a two-month shelf life.
The Deal: Giffgaff’s “Goodybag” plans come with a friendly data rollover feature. Any data you don’t use this month gets saved and added to your allowance for the next month. It even sticks around for a second month, giving you a solid window to use it up. It’s a simple, flexible way to make sure your data doesn’t go to waste.
iD Mobile
The Vibe: A simple, no-nonsense safety net for your data.
The Deal: With iD Mobile, managing your data is stress-free. If you have any data left at the end of the month, it automatically rolls over to the next one. It’s a straightforward way to build up a little extra buffer without any complicated rules, making it easier to stay in control of your usage.
Interesting Read: Does 5G Use More Data: How Much Do I Need?
O2
The Vibe: Flexibility is the name of the game.
The Deal: O2 gives you a couple of solid ways to make sure your data doesn’t go to waste. On their standard monthly plans, any data you don’t use automatically rolls over to give you a head start on the next month.
If you want even more control, their Custom Plans let you actually adjust your data allowance each month, so you can fine-tune what you need and still roll over whatever’s left. It’s all about giving you the flexibility to use your data your way.
Sky Mobile
The Vibe: Your data’s personal piggy bank.
The Deal: Sky’s “Roll” feature lets you save your unused data for a ridiculously long time—up to three years. It’s perfect if you have a light data month and want to build up a safety net for when you really need it later.
SMARTY
The Vibe: Getting paid for what you don’t use.
The Deal: SMARTY does data rollover differently. With their “Data Discount,” they literally refund you £1 for every gigabyte of data you don’t use. So you save your data for next month, and you save money. It’s a win-win.
Virgin Mobile
The Vibe: A simple, no-waste data safety net.
The Deal: Don’t use all your data this month? No stress. With Virgin Mobile, whatever’s left gets automatically added to your allowance for the next month. It’s a straightforward way to make sure you never feel like you’re wasting your money.
Vodafone
The Vibe: Flexible data that moves with you.
The Deal: Vodafone’s “Data Rollover” gives you some flexibility. If you don’t use up your full monthly data allowance, the leftover amount rolls over, giving you a little extra to play with the following month. It helps you get the most value from your plan.
Three
The Vibe: The O.G. of big data and rollover.
The Deal: Three was one of the first to offer data rollover. Their “Go Binge” feature lets you save any unused data for up to three months. This lets you build up a solid stash for a time when you know you’ll need to use more data than usual.
Talk Home Mobile
Talk Home Mobile plans to launch a data rollover service for its customers. This service is expected to facilitate the customers and add value to their Mobile experience. With this addition, the customers can carry forward their unused data allowance.
With the launch of the data rollover service, customers can carry their unused data to the following months. For example, if you’ve purchased a gold PAYG plan and consumed 30 GB of data in a month. Your auto-renewal to the next months will give you 80 GB plus additional 50 GBs from the previous month.
Bottom Line
Data rollover has become a valuable feature many network providers offer. This feature ensures you never waste unused data at the end of your billing cycle.
While each network has its specific policies and limitations regarding data rollover, it is evident that the concept has gained significant popularity.
Whether you’re on a pay-monthly or pay-as-you-go plan, networks like EE, giffgaff, iD Mobile, O2, Sky Mobile, and Virgin are leading the way in providing data rollover benefits to their customers. With data rollover, you can now make the most of your data allowance, avoid unnecessary charges, and stay connected without interruptions.
So, if you’re looking for a network that values your unused data, consider opting for one that offers data rollover and start maximizing your mobile experience today.
