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no 4g


Really disappointed at the fact I don’t get 4g! The network checker says 3G isn’t compatible in my area but that’s all I can get. Think I’ll be looking for another provider next month 

4 replies

Decembersangel72
Silver Contributor

Hi @keranaB 👋🏻
When you say ‘I don’t get 4G’ do you mean that it isn’t available in your area OR that you mobile doesn’t have 4G/VoLTE connectivity?
Most MNO are turning off or have completely turned off their 3G network and so the only option, if you don’t have 4G, is to find a provider that still supports 2G (EE, Vodafone and O2 networks). This should be available until 2033 unless the MNO decides to stop supporting it. Just remember that you will only be able to call and text on a 2G network.


  • Author
  • New
 Contributor
  • 1 reply
  • July 12, 2024

My mobile supports 4g &5g but since changing to ID network I don’t get 4g. I got both 4 & 5g in my area before 


Decembersangel72
Silver Contributor

As THREE has now turned off most of its 3G network you will only be able to get (4G)VoLTE or 5G on iD.


Under ‘Mobile Networks’ (or similar) in your phones settings do you see ‘4G’ or ‘LTE’ for ‘Network mode’? You need to see ‘LTE’ and not ‘4G’ under Network Mode to be able to make/receive VoLTE calls as ‘VoLTE’ stands for Voice over LTE which is the ‘4G’ network used by all MNO?
Do you see the options to turn on VoLTE calls or WiFi Calling in the Settings? 

 

Did you purchase the phone from the network you were with at the time?

 


I ask these questions as not many people know that the software updates on phones is controlled by the MNO they are sold by.
For example, my sister gave me her old Samsung Galaxy phone which she purchsed from Vodafone (when she had her service with them). This phone worked until the 3G network was turned off and then I couldn’t make/receive calls as these options (VoLTE/WiFiCalling) were not an option in the Settings even though the phone ‘had’ the capability to do so. Even when I performed the ‘update software’ on the phone I still couldn’t see these options.
If you look at the ‘Sevice Provider SW ver’ under ‘Software Information’ (maybe different depending on your phone make/model) you can see if the software is controlled by a certain MNO.
This is what the information looked like on the SG phone:-
 

This shows that the software on the SG I was given was controlled by Vodafone (VOD) and so I had to be using that network to get ALL of the relevant software updates so that VoLTE and WiFi calling was available to use.


Here is a list of all the software codes for MNO:-
EVR (EE)

BTC, CPW (Carphone Warehouse)

H3G, O2I, O2U (O2)

ORA (Orange)

TMU (T-Mobile)

TSC, VIR, VOD (Vodafone)

XEU (EE/Three/Unbranded)

 

If you see any of these codes (other than XEU as this is Unbranded software) then you will not be able to get the required software updates to enable the connection to/use of VoLTE and WiFi Calling.
After many, many hours of research I found that you have to ‘Flash’ your phone to an UNBRANDED (BTU) software so that ALL updates can be received to unlock its potential. This means that once done (flashed) you receive updates from the manufacturer rather than the MNO the phone was sold by.
It seems very daunting at first but once you have done your research it is easy to do. I did this with the SG phone and the software is now as below and I have the full capabilities of the phone including VoLTE calls and WiFi Calling (plus other options that were previously unavailable).
 

This really is worth looking into if you have a phone that you want to keep as you can’t be sure if you purchase a ‘new’ one you won’t come up against the same problem.
Please, please do your research for Flashing your phone to Unbranded software, if this is the way you want to go!


Tyler
iD Mobile Employee
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  • iD Mobile Employee
  • 3790 replies
  • July 29, 2024

Hey there @keranaB, welcome to Community!

 

What’s the full postcode you’re having issues in please?

 

Thanks,

Tyler