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Three 4G Discussion Thread (Part 2)


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Old 27-12-2016, 23:00
Zebb
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Who used to do those nice purple and red maps, haven't seen any of those for ages.
GavinAshford IIRC, it'd be interesting to see an end of 2015/16 map comparison.
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Old 27-12-2016, 23:42
GavinAshford
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The last Three update I did was 8th Oct which included the year on year comparison as of when the 800 went live on the map.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...postcount=5248

I'll have to see if I have anything saved from Dec/Jan 2015 to actually compare to for a year end version.
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Old 28-12-2016, 16:27
georgi_prodanov
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Today decided to try out Three PAYG Sim and was amazed by 4G800 coverage in the areas where I drive.-parts of Oxfordshire and Berkshire Well done Three so EE to follow you
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Old 28-12-2016, 18:42
jonmorris
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Today decided to try out Three PAYG Sim and was amazed by 4G800 coverage in the areas where I drive.-parts of Oxfordshire and Berkshire Well done Three so EE to follow you
As you know, EE and Three don't have the same arrangement with MBNL for rolling out 4G. Three and EE have different strategies, and Three started earlier on 800.

To be honest, if you're getting 800 on Three then that's not necessarily a good thing. I mean, yes, Three has more spectrum than EE - but if you're on 800 then that must mean there's no 1800 4G and little to no 3G.

I would hope that in 2017 we might see enough 800 sites on Three to allow the priority to be changed so L800 will be chosen over U2100. But 800 for EE and Three is limited, and should always be a last resort where you only want to see it when indoors or in the absolute middle of nowhere.

Get 800 on a high street (EE/Three) and I wouldn't be breaking out the champagne just yet!
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Old 28-12-2016, 19:06
jchamier
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To be honest, if you're getting 800 on Three then that's not necessarily a good thing. I mean, yes, Three has more spectrum than EE - but if you're on 800 then that must mean there's no 1800 4G and little to no 3G.
I assume you've got that backwards Jon - Three and EE both have only 5 MHz of 800, and Three has 15 MHz of 1800. EE has much much more of 1800. Three didn't bid at the auction for any 2600 which may why they're keeping people on 3G.

but I completely agree that 800 is a last resort spectrum for both EE and Three, in my town in Hampshire we are covered in 1800 (and 2100 for 3G), no problems indoors. 800 is just not needed here. EE and Three were lucky to get some good site locations in early days.
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Old 28-12-2016, 19:13
jonmorris
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Sorry, I forgot Three had the same amount of 800 as EE. But it doesn't really change my argument much. You don't want to be on 800 on Three or EE except when there's no alternative.

I am quite happy that before Christmas, EE did work in the locality that means I now get 4G pretty much everywhere. Normally only band 3, but outdoors (or upstairs at home) I can get band 7 and 4G+.

800 could have done the same, but I wouldn't be getting speeds of between 40-120Mbps!
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Old 28-12-2016, 19:23
jchamier
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800 could have done the same, but I wouldn't be getting speeds of between 40-120Mbps!
Agreed! I *think* I'm under the beam of my local mast as I get 45mbps indoors, but if I walk up the road to the postbox I can manage 85mbps. All on Band 3.
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Old 28-12-2016, 19:41
georgi_prodanov
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Sorry, I forgot Three had the same amount of 800 as EE. But it doesn't really change my argument much. You don't want to be on 800 on Three or EE except when there's no alternative.

I am quite happy that before Christmas, EE did work in the locality that means I now get 4G pretty much everywhere. Normally only band 3, but outdoors (or upstairs at home) I can get band 7 and 4G+.

800 could have done the same, but I wouldn't be getting speeds of between 40-120Mbps!
Yes agree with you Jon, EE have 4G1800 almost everywhere here in Reading /Berkshire but outdoors. As soon as you step in it disappears and very little 3G/2G. 4G will make a huge improvement indoors as now calls drop most of the time where I work. Sorry about talking for EE on a Three thread
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Old 29-12-2016, 13:26
Thine Wonk
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The last Three update I did was 8th Oct which included the year on year comparison as of when the 800 went live on the map.

http://forums.digitalspy.co.uk/showp...postcount=5248

I'll have to see if I have anything saved from Dec/Jan 2015 to actually compare to for a year end version.
Thanks Gavin, if not look forward to the next set as I like to see the progress, especially when you can see what's changed in certain areas.
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Old 29-12-2016, 13:52
jchamier
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Yes agree with you Jon, EE have 4G1800 almost everywhere here in Reading /Berkshire but outdoors. As soon as you step in it disappears and very little 3G/2G.
Interesting, I wonder what building construction you have. Around here we have good outdoor and indoor 2G, 4G (both 1800) and 3G is a bit weaker as you'd expect for 2100. Better than Three in most of the town, and better than VO2 for years.

Three and EE will want the majority of users NOT using the 800, due to capacity, they will prefer us on U2100 (Three) or L1800/L2600 (EE) than the 5mhz of 800.
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Old 29-12-2016, 14:05
blueacid
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Three and EE will want the majority of users NOT using the 800, due to capacity, they will prefer us on U2100 (Three) or L1800/L2600 (EE) than the 5mhz of 800.
Well, surely Three would prefer users to be on L1800; the more users on that then the closer they could get to refarming some 2100 for 4G as well. LTE is more spectrally efficient than 3G, so reallocating some 2100 to 4G would provide greater capacity for the same overall spectrum use.

Of course, right now they need to keep sufficient 3G for their non-4G and non-VoLTE users. But time alone will help that; the heavy users will likely upgrade their phones more often, the lighter occasional users with older handsets will on the whole not really notice or care that their peak speeds are lower: if high speed was a priority to them, they would have already upgraded to a 4G handset.
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Old 29-12-2016, 14:20
jchamier
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Well, surely Three would prefer users to be on L1800; the more users on that then the closer they could get to refarming some 2100 for 4G as well. LTE is more spectrally efficient than 3G, so reallocating some 2100 to 4G would provide greater capacity for the same overall spectrum use.
Agreed, but Three would need to roll out 4G a bit faster.... too many 3G only areas.
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Old 29-12-2016, 20:27
georgi_prodanov
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Interesting, I wonder what building construction you have. Around here we have good outdoor and indoor 2G, 4G (both 1800) and 3G is a bit weaker as you'd expect for 2100. Better than Three in most of the town, and better than VO2 for years.

Three and EE will want the majority of users NOT using the 800, due to capacity, they will prefer us on U2100 (Three) or L1800/L2600 (EE) than the 5mhz of 800.
Normal brick houses but most of the locations I work as soon as I step in I go 3G or 2G or sometimes NO SERVICE. When I used to be with Vodafone I had everywhere 3G/4G but EE seemed promising with the 4G800 and VoLTE is very good so that is why I changed operators. Also was fed up with Voda wifi calling as it was not working like EE wifi call. I am very happy with EE and when I am indoors at least if no signal I can use wifi call on EE
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Old 29-12-2016, 23:36
Gigabit
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So hold on Vodafone worked for you and you moved because...
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Old 29-12-2016, 23:50
packages
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So hold on Vodafone worked for you and you moved because...
Yea I don't get it either.
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Old 29-12-2016, 23:59
blueacid
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Agreed, but Three would need to roll out 4G a bit faster.... too many 3G only areas.
Could the rollout not be staggered though? So in the city centres, a chunk of 2100Mhz spectrum for LTE with what's left over can do 3G. Sure, that might mean the loss of DC-HSDPA, but presumably that'd be a worthwhile loss?

Of course having done this in the city wouldn't affect the allocation of spectrum to 3G masts in non-4G areas.. right?
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Old 30-12-2016, 00:50
jonmorris
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Yea I don't get it either.
VoLTE is important but not sure it's a reason to move. Plus Vodafone will have VoLTE too.
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Old 30-12-2016, 07:15
georgi_prodanov
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VoLTE is important but not sure it's a reason to move. Plus Vodafone will have VoLTE too.
Thing is I was paying too much for what I was getting- 47 pounds and had only 500mb roaming. Now paying 16 pounds and have 12gb UK and roaming. Also I did not like the fact that on Voda you need to be on a red plan to get wifi call and after upgrading found out cant send messages on wifi call if no signal but was too late.(there are few notspots indoors which could not avoid) On EE just need to be pay monthly customer for wifi calling
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Old 30-12-2016, 09:04
GavinAshford
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Three's 4G coverage map changes

Blue = 8th October 2016
Red = 30th December (today)

1800: http://gdurl.com/7WYh
800: http://gdurl.com/vfB7

For those interested, its been over a year since 800 went live so I've done comparissons for year-on-year too:

Blue = 5th Jan 2016
Red = 30th December (today)

1800: http://gdurl.com/d42q
800: http://gdurl.com/fQ8B
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Old 30-12-2016, 09:16
dephanix02
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All that 800 and barely a soul using it.
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Old 30-12-2016, 09:21
Zebb
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Thanks for those maps, very interesting GavinAshford. The yearly ones show 3 have done more work than I thought, but as a customer it's been a long wait with still much to do.

I use 800 via 3iT with my old Moto G 4G.
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Old 30-12-2016, 09:31
jonmorris
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All that 800 and barely a soul using it.
It's all about priorities. I have 800 at home. On my Z3 I could force 4G only and get it in parts of the house when 1800 went.

On my Mate 9 I can't force 4G only so the phone clings on to 3G for dear life and I never get to use 800.

Most users aren't going to force 4G only even if they can so 800 is always going to be rather elusive until Three decides to start the process of shifting 800 up the table and refarming 3G spectrum to 4G.
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Old 30-12-2016, 09:54
Jwhiterz
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So am I correct in saying that Three are only letting mobiles connect to 800 if their phone works with VOLTE?
If their phone is 4G compatible but not VOLTE it will just connect to 1800 only?
I can see where the issue may come in if you're in an area where the 1800 travels better into buildings than 3G as you could be left in the situation where you can't call. I know 3 have the Three in Touch app but it's not as seamless for users.
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Old 30-12-2016, 10:12
Gigabit
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That 1800 map is embarassing...
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Old 30-12-2016, 10:14
moox
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All that 800 and barely a soul using it.
My dad would love to, but 3's network is designed to ensure he can't use it. His phone picks up a very poor 2100MHz 3G signal so it prefers that.

He'd benefit massively either from changing the priority, or from enabling wifi calling on the S7
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