How pooled and shared data works
Aggregated tariffs and sharers both pool data across an account, but they work differently. Here's which suits which team.
Business accounts can pool data in two different ways. Both stop one heavy user from blowing the budget, but they are bought and priced differently — and they can't be mixed.
Key takeaways
- Aggregated: every connection contributes its allowance to one account pool.
- Sharer: low line rental per connection, all data from one shared bundle.
- Shared bundles run from 25GB to 5TB, one bundle per account.
- Aggregated tariffs are not compatible with shared data bundles.
Business accounts can pool data in two different ways. Both stop one heavy user from blowing the budget, but they are bought and priced differently — and they can't be mixed.
Key takeaways
- Aggregated: every connection contributes its allowance to one account pool.
- Sharer: low line rental per connection, all data from one shared bundle.
- Shared bundles run from 25GB to 5TB, one bundle per account.
- Aggregated tariffs are not compatible with shared data bundles.
Aggregated tariffs
On an aggregated tariff, every connection contributes its own allowance to a single account-level pool. Heavy users draw from the same pool as light users, so you buy for the team average rather than the worst case.
Aggregated tariffs are not compatible with shared data bundles — you choose one model or the other.
Sharer tariffs
On a sharer tariff, each connection has a low line rental and no allowance of its own. All the data comes from one shared data bundle bought at account level, ranging from 25GB up to 5TB, with one bundle added per account.
That makes capacity a single lever: if the team needs more data, you increase the bundle rather than renegotiating every line.
Which model suits your team
Aggregated suits teams with fairly even usage across people. Sharers suit teams where a handful of people use most of the data, or where you want one number to manage and forecast.
- Even usage across the team → aggregated
- A few heavy users, many light users → sharer
- Frequently adding and removing lines → sharer
- Want each line to carry its own allowance → aggregated
Mobile broadband sharers
Mobile broadband sharers work the same way, but on data-only connections for routers, tablets and dongles. They are a good fit for sites, vehicles and kit that needs connectivity without a voice line.
Frequently asked questions
Can I add a shared data bundle to an aggregated tariff?
No. Aggregated tariffs are not compatible with shared data bundles.
How big can a shared data bundle be?
Shared bundles range from 25GB up to 5TB, with one bundle added per account.
Do sharer connections have their own allowance?
No. Each sharer connection has a low line rental and draws all of its data from the account's shared bundle.
Next steps
Frequently asked questions
Can I add a shared data bundle to an aggregated tariff?
No. Aggregated tariffs are not compatible with shared data bundles.
How big can a shared data bundle be?
Shared bundles range from 25GB up to 5TB, with one bundle added per account.
Do sharer connections have their own allowance?
No. Each sharer connection has a low line rental and draws all of its data from the account's shared bundle.
Deals mentioned in this guide
Prices include VAT and show the saving against the network’s own published price where a like-for-like plan exists.
O2 Unlimited
Unlimited streaming and tethering
Fixed for the full 24 month term
Compared against O2 direct, you save £192 over the 24 month term
That’s £8/month less than their £23 price for the same allowance.
Unlimited
Data
24 months
Contract
Vodafone Unlimited
Unlimited streaming and tethering
Fixed for the full 24 month term
Compared against Vodafone direct, you save £216 over the 24 month term
That’s £9/month less than their £26 price for the same allowance.
Unlimited
Data
24 months
Contract