topic Re: Have activated new 48 SIM, but not getting 5G, only 4G in Joining 48?

Have activated new 48 SIM, but not getting 5G, only 4G

NigelD7313 — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 16:28:06 GMT

I've received a 48 SIM and have activated it to try out the data speeds I'll get if I buy a plan (I intend to sign up for the €12.99 plan as long as I can get 5G service with it). However, I'm only getting 4G speeds on the card I've activated (I've tried the SIM in several devices) rather than 5G. I'm in an area with excellent 5G coverage on the Three network (I also have a Three 5G SIM which works fine in my devices).

The blurb on the website says you get 1Gb of free data when you activate your card so you can "test the speeds" you'll get before buying a plan, and that's what I'm trying to do. However, the blurb elsewhere says that you get free 5G when you buy the €12.99 plan. So do I only get 5G if I buy the €12.99 plan - in which case how can I actually test the speed I'll get before buying the plan?

Is there a chicken and egg thing going on here or am I just not going to get 5G speeds with 48 for some reason, in which case I'll probably pass.

Noige

Re: Have activated new 48 SIM, but not getting 5G, only 4G

dalyer — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 16:32:45 GMT

This came up a while ago and I had to ask 48 for clarification.

Unfortunately the free 1GB data allowance only provides 4G/LTE and not 5G.

And unfortunately 48 never updated this page to clarify this:

https://community.48.ie/t5/The-Knowledge-Base/Getting-Started-Try-Before-You-Buy/ta-p/53097

Or, better still, fix things so that the free 1GB trial data offers 5G.

To get 5G you need to...

Have a 5G capable device
Buy a €12.99 plan
And configure your APN settings correctly: https://community.48.ie/t5/The-Knowledge-Base/Data-APN-Settings-i-e-Internet-amp-MMS-Settings/ta-p/53106

If you need to contact 48 support about this then see the links in my signature below.

Re: Have activated new 48 SIM, but not getting 5G, only 4G

NigelD7313 — Fri, 01 Aug 2025 16:41:16 GMT

Thanks very much Dalyer - that clarifies things nicely. As I know I've good Three 5G coverage, it's probable that I'll get 5G if I sign up to the €12.99 plan so I'll give it a go for a month.