topic Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only in Internet

3G (2G) data roaming only

RajmundF4287 — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 08:41:41 GMT

I'm dissapointed that 48 still doesn't allow to use 4G roaming and you can connect to 3G network only while roaming. Also in the UK the only network allowed is O2-UK and 3G connection only. While it's quite good in the Republic of Ireland, it has a very limited use abroad. Many foreign mobile operators are limiting and converting 3G coverage already and focusing only on a 4G and 5G so this is quite frustrating

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

dalyer — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 13:18:10 GMT

I'm not sure why you say "3G (2G)" in the thread title - 3G and 2G are different standards.

I cannot find anything to clarify what, if any, limitations there are on EU/UK data roaming on 48.

But from experience EU roaming was never tied to specific networks and could be used on any.

Not sure about the 4G vs 3G issue though.

You should contact 48 support and ask them to clarify if your experience in the UK is expected.

Hope this helps.

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

RajmundF4287 — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 13:33:05 GMT

I said that you can access only 3G and 2G data roaming. 4G (5G) unavailable. The problem is that their agents doesn't have a clue about this issue and some of them still think this is a phone settings issue.

I visited with 48 at least 3 EU countries and none of them allowed me to use 4G network of any of the roaming partners, with some countries allowing to select only 1 network out of 4. Selecting the network manually doesn't work - phone will search for all the available networks, but if you choose any of the other in the list, phone will say 'your sim does not allow connection to this network' so it's obviously 48 issue and their lax roaming availability

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

dalyer — Wed, 16 Jun 2021 14:46:43 GMT

I roamed in France a couple of years ago and could connect to any network.

Not sure what data standard I was getting but I have a feeling that it was 4G.

Maybe something has changed in the meantime and only some networks and data standards are available in some countries?

5G is definitely not available on 48 when roaming or even when here in Ireland.

I'm not sure why support can't clarify things better for you and the wider 48 community...

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

AndrewK7364 — Sat, 26 Jun 2021 21:27:58 GMT

I was in the north yesterday with another 48 user and can confirm that both of us could only connect to O2-uk 3G or 2G. Trying the o2 4G failed as did all other uk metworks including 3 which surprised me. Is it normal for 48 to restrict data roaming to 3G (or worse) and no 4G? If that's the case will have to see if GoMo is any better...

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

RajmundF4287 — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 09:23:20 GMT

No 4G access in roaming at all anywhere in the EU. Foreign networks will let you roam in 2G or 3G networks only. You won't be able to connect to 4G network while roaming. Funny part is that when you ask support about that, they will insist that you have to set up your phone the way it will be able to connect to 4G but this is absolutely not true. Also when asking what networks in countries you can access (for example Slovakia), they will name you 3 (Orange, Telekom, O2) out of 4 networks in that country you can roam in, but in reality your SIM card will be able to connect to O2 only and maximum is very limited 3G, because they abandoned 3G development and are actually about to discontinue 3G completely to support 4G and 5G only. Also when I tried to manually select network, for example Orange, the phone said 'YOUR SIM DOESN'T ALLOW CONNECTION TO THIS NETWORK' so this is NOT a phone issue, but network issue. 48 customer service is delusional and they deceive their customers. Yes - the service is cheap, but that doesn't mean you shouldn't be able roaming services fully same as home up to limit what they advertise.

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

AndrewK7364 — Sun, 27 Jun 2021 10:16:40 GMT

That's very poor if true, and my experience would back that up. It's definitely not a phone issue, I had an android and iphone refuse to connect to anything other than O2-UK 3G. I worked for years for a large red mobile operator too so know very well how roaming provisioning works and this is nothing to do with the phone. I wouldn't mind if they were just honest and advertised it as 3G only while roaming.

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

eilisg — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 09:08:13 GMT

Same here. 48 months cheap and cheerful, however roaming data service is awful. I am a frequent traveller. Hubby with Vodafone so we use that abroad - 48 worse than useless abroad unfortunately. Pity as they are v cost effective option at home, esp when multiple kids in family, it all adds up

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

dalyer — Sat, 17 Jul 2021 12:07:29 GMT

@eilisg wrote:
Same here. 48 months cheap and cheerful, however roaming data service is awful. I am a frequent traveller. Hubby with Vodafone so we use that abroad - 48 worse than useless abroad unfortunately. Pity as they are v cost effective option at home, esp when multiple kids in family, it all adds up

Are you saying that data did not work at all for you or that it did work but was too slow or unreliable to be usable or something?

What did you try to get it to work properly?

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

DavidW4629 — Thu, 22 Jul 2021 16:53:57 GMT

I am having the exact same issue being in Germany at the moment. I am actually wondering if this is allowed according to EU roaming regulations. There is a reason why this is called "roam like home" but I am not seeing that.

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

AoifeD2796 — Fri, 23 Jul 2021 06:16:05 GMT

I think I’m having similar issues although I can’t even connect to a network. I’m in Italy in area I’ve previously always had coverage and now if I manage to connect to a network, once I try turn on 3G it turns straight to no service. I’m away for 2 months so not like it’s only a problem for a little while.

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

MarkD9907 — Thu, 07 Oct 2021 16:02:08 GMT

In France. Cut off for 3 days. Engaged with assistance and back in contact. APN 48 Internet then add APN 48months.liffeytelecom.com worked. Strange trying to sign in to orange network without any linkage details but it worked. What an ordeal.

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

MarkD9907 — Sat, 24 Jul 2021 20:16:05 GMT

1) From the Home screen, swipe up, then tap Settings.
Tap Wi-Fi & network > SIM & network > Access Point Names.

Add the below 2 lines in APN and save it-
Name- 48 internet
APN - 48months.liffeytelecom.com

Then enable the data roaming.

Manual network selection (For calls and texts)

For Android. From the Home screen, swipe up, then tap Settings.
Tap Wi-Fi & internet > SIM & network > Network operators.
Tap Choose automatically to turn off, then tap Ok.
Select from the list of available networks.
Try connecting to every single network and see which one gives the strongest connection.

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

dalyer — Sun, 25 Jul 2021 15:03:34 GMT

I think that the problem is that for some people, even when they ensured that the APN field was changed back to 48months.liffeytelecom.com after it unilaterally changed to internet.proximus.be or whatever, they still couldn't get it working. And some people on both iOS and Android failed to even get a connection to a network for just calls/texts while roaming in Europe. It's very odd and it looks like several people failed to get anything working while roaming even though it should just work...

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

ValerioM5699 — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 13:53:22 GMT

Same here

I am in Italy - both me and my wife unable to have a decent connection.

If we are lucky, we get 3G to browse with one carrier only (WindTre) - speed test says 0.8 Mb/s this morning.

Everyone else (Vodafone, TIM, Iliad) only allow us to use EDGE connection.

Asked support 3 times and every single time they mentioned settings to be changed (and they were up-to-date).

I am seriously thinking to change because as frequent traveller I cannot rely on Edge while Gomo will allow me to use 4G everywhere

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

RajmundF4287 — Thu, 29 Jul 2021 14:57:04 GMT

I don't know why is such a problem to write in roaming section which mobile networks you can log into while roaming and what network (3G, 4G) is available

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

dalyer — Fri, 30 Jul 2021 10:22:57 GMT

It's been a few years since I was roaming abroad (NI, France, Spain) but at that time I could connect to any/all local networks. Maybe something has changed since then but I don't recall anything being posted by 48 about this if it did.

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

MaurizioA9167 — Tue, 03 Aug 2021 13:54:57 GMT

The challenge is real.

Worst case scenario: your phone won't pick up any network signal for more than a few seconds.

To fix it on iPhones, go to Settings > Mobile Data > SIM Applications > When Abroad > Network Selection > Manual

Remember to follow the same steps to switch from "Manual" to "Automatic" once you get back on Irish soil.

While in Italy, you can only get 3G or EDGE (2G). No 4G available.

Not sure why, but I am pretty confident there is no actionable solution from end users.

I wonder what 48's stance is.

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

dalyer — Wed, 04 Aug 2021 10:21:45 GMT

@MaurizioA9167 wrote:

The challenge is real.

Worst case scenario: your phone won't pick up any network signal for more than a few seconds.

To fix it on iPhones, go to Settings > Mobile Data > SIM Applications > When Abroad > Network Selection > Manual

Remember to follow the same steps to switch from "Manual" to "Automatic" once you get back on Irish soil.

While in Italy, you can only get 3G or EDGE (2G). No 4G available.

Not sure why, but I am pretty confident there is no actionable solution from end users.

I wonder what 48's stance is.

https://community.48.ie/t5/Most-Popular-Questions/iPhone-abroad-issue/td-p/36862

Re: 3G (2G) data roaming only

AnthonyL0739 — Sat, 21 Aug 2021 22:14:18 GMT

I was in Germany in July data worked fine after setting up my phone for roaming, was in U.K. beginning of August data was fine, back in Germany now, data worked first two days here then went to 2g cannot get 3G for a week now, contacted 48 4 times usual answer from support agents, change APN, then blamed network over here when that didn’t work, told them work colleagues on Vodafone and Eir have no issue with their data, was told to order a new sim, reading posts on here I thinking now have 48 restricted my data to 2g