Can anyone explain this?

sam_b77 · Thread Author #1 02-11-2012, 02:08 PM

My cousin got a T-Mobile BB 9900 from USA to India. I had it unlocked and we proceeded to set it up.

After everything was done and we activated the device with the Indian SIM card the phone was showing 4G as the network data signal. Now in India we have 3g data speeds, so I wondered about this.

I went to the network settings and tried switching the signal but the only options were
1) 2g
2) 3g and 4g

In my phone I only have 2g or 2g and 3g options.

So can anyone explain why the T-Mobile 9900 was/is showing 4g when it should be saying 3g?

Or is it that in USA they have labeled as 4g what we know in India as 3g??
BTW our carriers claim that we will receive unto 12Mbps speeds on our 3g plans. What we actually get is 4-5Mbps.

Just wanting to clear this up.

Bla1ze · #2 02-11-2012, 02:14 PM

T-Mobile runs on 1700Mhz for their 3G, not compatible in India. You would have needed an AT&T one in order to get 3G.

In other words, and in short -- the device is not compatible with your 3G network as it does not have the supported 3G bands.

sam_b77 · Thread Author #3 02-11-2012, 02:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bla1ze

T-Mobile runs on 1700Mhz for their 3G, not compatible in India. You would have needed an AT&T one in order to get 3G.

In other words, and in short -- the device is not compatible with your 3G network as it does not have the supported 3G bands.

But its running just fine.

Started the Wifi hot spot and connected my laptop and did a speediest. Got 4.5Mbps.

Bla1ze · #4 02-11-2012, 02:28 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sam_b77

But its running just fine.

Started the Wifi hot spot and connected my laptop and did a speediest. Got 4.5Mbps.

Oh sorry, read that wrong.. it's showing 4G because that's what the indicator is meant to show. T-Mobile labels their HSPA+ as 4G and as such, that is what will show on the device.

sam_b77 · Thread Author #5 02-11-2012, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bla1ze

Oh sorry, read that wrong.. it's showing 4G because that's what the indicator is meant to show. T-Mobile labels their HSPA+ as 4G and as such, that is what will show on the device.

So basically India has HSPA+ networks?
Then how is this different than the American 4g networks?

Bla1ze · #6 02-11-2012, 02:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sam_b77

So basically India has HSPA+ networks?
Then how is this different than the American 4g networks?

The indicator is not reliable.. it's baked into the firmware to always show 4G when reality is it's really only 3G and HSPA+ services.

Some carriers call HSPA+ 4G.. it's all a matter of opinion really, to me.. HSPA+ is NOT 4G.. to some US carriers though, it is and they label it as such.

Either way, if you are attached to 3G services in India.. your device will show 4G because that's how T-Mobile has it designed in their firmware.