T-Mobile 3G speeds

kingdave · 25-09-2011, 20:13

T-Mobile UK users - what kind of download speeds are you getting in their 3G/HSDPA service on your mobile phone?

I was under the impression that most users could get around 3-4MB/s however testing mine using the SpeedTest.net Android app I'm lucky to get 0.3MB/s. I've also tested this in Preston, Manchester, Leeds and across the M61 and M62 corridors.

I've tried changing my APN settings to broadbrand.tmobile.co.uk in the hoe that would connect me to their mobile broadband "dongle" service but it didn't change anything.

Am I likely to have a speed cap on my service? I'm on a monthly contract with what used to be the old Web and Walk service. I've been told by customer services that as I have an Android (Desire HD) that I have a 3GB download allowance with an unrestricted download speed.

Any ideas? What are others getting? How can I improve my speeds?

Thanks

Thine Wonk · 25-09-2011, 21:01

Speedtest sites can be unreliable, try changing the server selection on the speedtest app?

Lummo · 25-09-2011, 21:16

Customer Services etc lie, they do have various speed caps in place, its quite low for standard PAYG internet i believe? And just under 2mb if you bought a smartphone from them. As you can see from my results, its quite clear there is a cap. But it doesn't bother me at all, its fast enough for mobile usage, loads videos and music etc very fast still.

When i use my mobile internet dongle, it easily gets around 4-5MB in the same location.

http://twitpic.com/6qm4g7 (London server)

dangetti · 25-09-2011, 21:19

There is a speed cap in place, CS might just not know about it but the system is there, my thoughts are built into the package which is added to your account.

Normal WnW gets you 0.3mb/s normally (3G capped speeds). If you are lucky enough to have the WnW Plus which was given with Android phones a while back (around a year ago) then you will get a max of 2mb/s or 1.8mb/s as it shows on speed tests.

If you had an older service on there called WnW Max or Mobile Broadband Max this gave you 10GB in a month and can be used for VOIP plus it gives you NO speed restrictions.

A while back I had normal WnW, ran a test and got 0.8, asked to add WnW Plus and then did a test and got 1.8, then called back to add Max and got 4.7, all in the same location on the same phone so there IS a cap just not known.

If you have the new 'Truly Unlimited' then this is also speed capped at 1mb/s and 0.5mb/s upload.

It is something which has REALLY bugged me about T-Mobile, having to pay more to get the speed the network is capable of doing.

Put my sim into an unlocked Three Premium Dongle and it picked up HSPA+ and with a speed test hit 7.5mb/s, still way short of the speed test using a Three SIM where I got 12.3mb/s

DNZ711 · 27-09-2011, 09:56

Hi, I tested my phone in the East Hull area using Kingston Communication as my server and I got 59 kilobytes a second download and 54 upload.

25-09-2011, 20:13	#1
kingdave Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2004 Location: Manchester Posts: 1,314	T-Mobile 3G speeds T-Mobile UK users - what kind of download speeds are you getting in their 3G/HSDPA service on your mobile phone? I was under the impression that most users could get around 3-4MB/s however testing mine using the SpeedTest.net Android app I'm lucky to get 0.3MB/s. I've also tested this in Preston, Manchester, Leeds and across the M61 and M62 corridors. I've tried changing my APN settings to broadbrand.tmobile.co.uk in the hoe that would connect me to their mobile broadband "dongle" service but it didn't change anything. Am I likely to have a speed cap on my service? I'm on a monthly contract with what used to be the old Web and Walk service. I've been told by customer services that as I have an Android (Desire HD) that I have a 3GB download allowance with an unrestricted download speed. Any ideas? What are others getting? How can I improve my speeds? Thanks

25-09-2011, 21:01	#2
Thine Wonk Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2009 Posts: 14,546	Speedtest sites can be unreliable, try changing the server selection on the speedtest app?

25-09-2011, 21:16	#3
Lummo Forum Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Posts: 6,737	Customer Services etc lie, they do have various speed caps in place, its quite low for standard PAYG internet i believe? And just under 2mb if you bought a smartphone from them. As you can see from my results, its quite clear there is a cap. But it doesn't bother me at all, its fast enough for mobile usage, loads videos and music etc very fast still. When i use my mobile internet dongle, it easily gets around 4-5MB in the same location. http://twitpic.com/6qm4g7 (London server)

25-09-2011, 21:19	#4
dangetti Forum Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Posts: 289	There is a speed cap in place, CS might just not know about it but the system is there, my thoughts are built into the package which is added to your account. Normal WnW gets you 0.3mb/s normally (3G capped speeds). If you are lucky enough to have the WnW Plus which was given with Android phones a while back (around a year ago) then you will get a max of 2mb/s or 1.8mb/s as it shows on speed tests. If you had an older service on there called WnW Max or Mobile Broadband Max this gave you 10GB in a month and can be used for VOIP plus it gives you NO speed restrictions. A while back I had normal WnW, ran a test and got 0.8, asked to add WnW Plus and then did a test and got 1.8, then called back to add Max and got 4.7, all in the same location on the same phone so there IS a cap just not known. If you have the new 'Truly Unlimited' then this is also speed capped at 1mb/s and 0.5mb/s upload. It is something which has REALLY bugged me about T-Mobile, having to pay more to get the speed the network is capable of doing. Put my sim into an unlocked Three Premium Dongle and it picked up HSPA+ and with a speed test hit 7.5mb/s, still way short of the speed test using a Three SIM where I got 12.3mb/s

27-09-2011, 09:56	#5
DNZ711 Guest Join Date: May 2001 Posts: 721	Hi, I tested my phone in the East Hull area using Kingston Communication as my server and I got 59 kilobytes a second download and 54 upload.

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T-Mobile 3G speeds