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Three 4G Discussion Thread (Part 2)


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Old 06-09-2015, 22:20
Skippy2005
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In the US, AT&T has by far a larger 4G LTE coverage footprint than T-Mobile, but T-Mobile is generally the faster network. The US market is very different than ours because spectrum is sold by market, so in one area T-Mobile might have 20MHz of spectrum and AT&T might have 15MHz and in another the other way round. AT&T is generally a solid network, not the fastest not the slowest speeds but always useable. T Mobile is more of a risk for many people. You have the advantage of both when roaming.

There are two other main networks (there are lots and lots of regional networks and affiliates) Verizon and Sprint, you can't roam on either of them because they're CDMA based, although they're using LTE even though Sprint dabbled in WiMax. Verizon has the best coverage footprint of any network, indeed their LTE rollout is fully complete and generally has very good speeds especially on their XLTE (20MHz wide band rollout) network. Sprint is behind quite a bit because they messed up their rollout at first, they used a 5MHz bandwidth carrier as their primary frequency for a time (à la Three) and it's really comeback to bite them, now they're rolling out on three frequencies using 8T8R antennas on every mast, FDD800MHz at 5MHz bearer, FDD1900MHz at 5MHz (10MHz in very very few markets like one or two at most) and TDD2500MHz of which they have about 120MHz of bandwidth of which they're rolling out 40MHz in CA in their most used markets.

Long post but I thought I'd share.
I totally understand what you've said and have read before about sprints balls up! I used T-Mobile the last time I was there in NYC (10 years ago) coverage was good but I had a GSM only phone back then. Again thanks to everyone, I really do appreciate your info and it's always a pleasure to come on here and read up on all the posts.
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Old 06-09-2015, 22:29
enapace
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In the US, AT&T has by far a larger 4G LTE coverage footprint than T-Mobile, but T-Mobile is generally the faster network. The US market is very different than ours because spectrum is sold by market, so in one area T-Mobile might have 20MHz of spectrum and AT&T might have 15MHz and in another the other way round. AT&T is generally a solid network, not the fastest not the slowest speeds but always useable. T Mobile is more of a risk for many people. You have the advantage of both when roaming.

There are two other main networks (there are lots and lots of regional networks and affiliates) Verizon and Sprint, you can't roam on either of them because they're CDMA based, although they're using LTE even though Sprint dabbled in WiMax. Verizon has the best coverage footprint of any network, indeed their LTE rollout is fully complete and generally has very good speeds especially on their XLTE (20MHz wide band rollout) network. Sprint is behind quite a bit because they messed up their rollout at first, they used a 5MHz bandwidth carrier as their primary frequency for a time (à la Three) and it's really comeback to bite them, now they're rolling out on three frequencies using 8T8R antennas on every mast, FDD800MHz at 5MHz bearer, FDD1900MHz at 5MHz (10MHz in very very few markets like one or two at most) and TDD2500MHz of which they have about 120MHz of bandwidth of which they're rolling out 40MHz in CA in their most used markets.

Long post but I thought I'd share.
If Sprint weren't complete tight arses they could of had 2x10MHz 1900MHz LTE the H Block 2x5MHz sold for absolute reserve price it would of had to have no CA as it would of been directly after there current 1900MHz spectrum.

It would of helped out massively sprint didn't bid for it at all.
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Old 06-09-2015, 22:59
jchamier
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There are two other main networks (there are lots and lots of regional networks and affiliates) Verizon and Sprint, you can't roam on either of them because they're CDMA based, although they're using LTE even though Sprint dabbled in WiMax. Verizon has the best coverage footprint of any network, indeed their LTE rollout is fully complete and generally has very good speeds especially on their XLTE (20MHz wide band rollout) network.
One day we will be able to roam on Verizon LTE. My family in the US is on Verizon with iPhone 6 handsets, and if you put their Verizon SIM in a UK iPhone 6 it works and you get Verizon LTE signal and can make voice calls (Thanks to VoLTE). However it won't switch down to 3G (CDMA) as the CDMA internal serial number is different.

AT&T users in the US get 4G/LTE roaming on EE in the UK, but EE users only get LTE roaming on T-Mobile USA, which is odd.
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Old 06-09-2015, 23:22
lightspeed2398
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If Sprint weren't complete tight arses they could of had 2x10MHz 1900MHz LTE the H Block 2x5MHz sold for absolute reserve price it would of had to have no CA as it would of been directly after there current 1900MHz spectrum.

It would of helped out massively sprint didn't bid for it at all.
I seem to recall that the FCC turned down T-Mobile and Sprint's application to have the reserve in the 600MHz auction increased to 40MHz. Considering how much money SoftBank are chucking at them though shouldn't be an issue for them if they're willing to invest.

Network Vision actually is going pretty well in a lot of places I hear. But when you're outside the LTE area the CDMA EVDO is awful apparently.

I can't tell if Three are going to win or not with 1800 at 15Mhz or lose with 800MHz at 5MHz. Either way Three has completely cheaped out and the merger is their only shot, feels to me like too much is riding on it.
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Old 07-09-2015, 00:28
Zee_Bukhari
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Why are people talking about American mobile networks? They use different frequencies to us in Europe. I want to know what the hell is going on here. I'm in London and so many areas are showing problems since 15th march or 14 April in my area and the areas surrounding my area. Wtf are they doing? I'm off tomorrow tine for another call or an email to head office. Not acceptable.
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Old 07-09-2015, 00:35
jonmorris
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Just back from Germany and the work Three was supposedly doing before I went seems to have fixed my dog slow 3G speeds of late (now back up to 17-20Mbps down and 3-3.5Mbps up, which is good) but 4G is still quite pathetic: 3.54 Down and 4.97 Up!
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Old 07-09-2015, 00:44
Gigabit
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I think the reason Three might not be allowing iPhones at launch is because they would have to allow all iPhones access wouldn't they?

For Android devices they wouldn't so I'm guessing they're using a small amount of Three-sold Android devices to test if the network can cope before allowing a swarm of iPhone users on.
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Old 07-09-2015, 03:09
Zee_Bukhari
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WHat about Windows Phones running Windows Phone 8.1? Microsoft added support for voLTE in this version.

Im hoping we get it on launch.
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Old 07-09-2015, 07:28
denyo1977
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One day we will be able to roam on Verizon LTE. My family in the US is on Verizon with iPhone 6 handsets, and if you put their Verizon SIM in a UK iPhone 6 it works and you get Verizon LTE signal and can make voice calls (Thanks to VoLTE). However it won't switch down to 3G (CDMA) as the CDMA internal serial number is different.

AT&T users in the US get 4G/LTE roaming on EE in the UK, but EE users only get LTE roaming on T-Mobile USA, which is odd.
EE's homepage suggests otherwise

http://ee.co.uk/help/add-ons-benefit...sing-4g-abroad

USA (T-Mobile, AT&T)

My partner was in Las Vegas last week and couldn't get any 4G roaming with EE. Do I understand correctly that both the Nexus 5 and the Nexus 6 don't support the bands T-Mobile and AT&T use?
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Old 07-09-2015, 08:00
moox
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However it won't switch down to 3G (CDMA) as the CDMA internal serial number is different..
I thought Verizon was doing CSIM now (on the same SIM as the LTE stuff). The "serial number" is whatever the SIM card says it is, which means you finally get portability on CDMA.
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Old 07-09-2015, 11:15
ianradioian
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My Three mobile signal here in the Cotswolds floats constantly between ht, h+ and 4g. Speeds can be fast on the h+ and slower on the 4g or vice versa. I've checked the speed and usually get 3 mbit or more, or as high as 22 mbit but as I've written this post, the ident that tells me which at the top of the screen has changed twice! Lol. I'll be pleased once it's 4g all the time. My phone must be picking up a couple of masts I think.
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Old 07-09-2015, 11:55
Skippy2005
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I seem to recall that the FCC turned down T-Mobile and Sprint's application to have the reserve in the 600MHz auction increased to 40MHz. Considering how much money SoftBank are chucking at them though shouldn't be an issue for them if they're willing to invest.

Network Vision actually is going pretty well in a lot of places I hear. But when you're outside the LTE area the CDMA EVDO is awful apparently.

I can't tell if Three are going to win or not with 1800 at 15Mhz or lose with 800MHz at 5MHz. Either way Three has completely cheaped out and the merger is their only shot, feels to me like too much is riding on it.
Don't forget three now has 20mhz @ 1.4ghz to CA with 15mhz @ 1.8ghz
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Old 07-09-2015, 12:33
FortKnox
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Nice to see the formatting on Three's Coverage Checker has been fixed.
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Old 07-09-2015, 14:23
enapace
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Don't forget three now has 20mhz @ 1.4ghz to CA with 15mhz @ 1.8ghz
Honestly I expect the 1400MHz will be used more with the 800MHz than the 1800MHz. As in a lot of areas that additional download spectrum will come in hand.
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Old 07-09-2015, 17:49
GavinAshford
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For those of you who like spreadsheets/datasets...

Using the URL that litespeed found that returns the coverage details I've pulled together the following spreadsheet:
https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets...it?usp=sharing

It represents the coverage of the first (alphabetically) full postcode in each postcode sector in the UK.
Unfortunately, to poll the UK's 1.3million full postcodes would have taken forever, this subset of ~11,500 is much more manageable.
Spreadsheet updated with ~33,000 postcodes.

Summarising:

Connection Count Percentage
800 4326 13%
1800 483 1%
3g 7443 22%
800 Coming 16231 49%

FourG Count Percentage
Very good service. 9977 30%
Good service. 7458 23%
Not available. 15631 47%
Coming Soon. 15 0%

ThreeG Count Percentage
Very good service. 22423 68%
Good service. 5947 18%
No coverage. 4711 14%
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Old 07-09-2015, 18:11
hybridtheory
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Hi

Good to see some Northern Ireland post codes with 800 coming soon. At a quick glance, Coleraine, Londonderry, Strabane and Portrush.

No sign of 4G coming to Belfast :-S or my home town of Antrim

Baz
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Old 07-09-2015, 18:29
binary
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We'll have to wait and see what the future holds. (And thank you for being able to hold a normal conversation. A skill sadly lacking with some it seems.)
Obnoxious much...
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Old 07-09-2015, 19:39
tarzion
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Work seems to be going on my area atm.

Just lost 4G indoors and then it jumped to full 4 bars for a few mins and now it is back to 1 bar.
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Old 07-09-2015, 20:28
d123
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WHat about Windows Phones running Windows Phone 8.1? Microsoft added support for voLTE in this version.

Im hoping we get it on launch.
I would doubt it, and even when they do it might be firmware dependent like WifiCalling is on WP.
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Old 07-09-2015, 21:09
Skippy2005
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Spreadsheet updated with ~33,000 postcodes.

Summarising:

Connection Count Percentage
800 4326 13%
1800 483 1%
3g 7443 22%
800 Coming 16231 49%

FourG Count Percentage
Very good service. 9977 30%
Good service. 7458 23%
Not available. 15631 47%
Coming Soon. 15 0%

ThreeG Count Percentage
Very good service. 22423 68%
Good service. 5947 18%
No coverage. 4711 14%

Hi I am unable to view the spread sheet, can I be cheeky and ask would one of you be kind enough to tell me what post code wf1 1de. Shows!

Thank you in advance 😁
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Old 07-09-2015, 21:21
lightspeed2398
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800 Coming for that post code.
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Old 07-09-2015, 21:21
hybridtheory
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Hi I am unable to view the spread sheet, can I be cheeky and ask would one of you be kind enough to tell me what post code wf1 1de. Shows!

Thank you in advance 😁
Hi

Nearest postcode WF1 1DH says 800 coming soon.

Baz
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Old 07-09-2015, 21:21
GavinAshford
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Hi I am unable to view the spread sheet, can I be cheeky and ask would one of you be kind enough to tell me what post code wf1 1de. Shows!

Thank you in advance 😁
Just plug in your postcode to the URL:
http://www.three.co.uk/maintenance/c...code=wf1%201de
Shows 800coming
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Old 07-09-2015, 21:42
Skippy2005
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Just plug in your postcode to the URL:
http://www.three.co.uk/maintenance/c...code=wf1%201de
Shows 800coming
Can't do it on the iPhone for some reason, I'm really sorry to ask but does it say anything about 3G improvements as there is no indoor coverage at all here outdoor is very weak for a city centre location (right in the centre) is poor.

Thanks
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Old 07-09-2015, 21:48
InfamousTeal
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Hi

Good to see some Northern Ireland post codes with 800 coming soon. At a quick glance, Coleraine, Londonderry, Strabane and Portrush.

No sign of 4G coming to Belfast :-S or my home town of Antrim

Baz
I know, this is what makes me think something is fishy :S How can Belfast still not have 4G, and it not be coming soon?? 800 coverage map still shows NI as completely blank for any 4G
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