LTE ? What is it?

Forums › 2degrees (including Slingshot, Orcon, Flip, Stuff Fibre, MyRepublic, 2talk and Vocus) › LTE ? What is it?

steevg

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#277072 24-Sep-2020 15:42

Hi Guys,

Can anyone explain to me what LTE is, what 2 Degree's LTE (network?) works on, and if it'll be a problem if I bought a phone from overseas for use mainly here in New Zealand?

Thanks

Linux

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#2573586 24-Sep-2020 15:45

LTE is 4G and uses 700 900 1800 and 2100Mhz depending on location

3G also uses 900 & 2100Mhz

SaltyNZ

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#2573589 24-Sep-2020 15:52

As long as it was manufactured in the last 2 years and it's not the absolute cheapest AliExpress model you can lay your hands on, it should be fine. All of them will support 1800MHz at the very least, and anything worth paying for will support the other bands by now too.

iPad Pro 11" + iPhone 15 Pro Max + 2degrees 4tw!

These comments are my own and do not represent the opinions of 2degrees.

wellygary

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#2573594 24-Sep-2020 16:03

SaltyNZ:

As long as it was manufactured in the last 2 years and it's not the absolute cheapest AliExpress model you can lay your hands on, it should be fine. All of them will support 1800MHz at the very least, and anything worth paying for will support the other bands by now too.

Yes, but an imported phone may not support the specific 4G band carrier aggregation that operators do to increase speeds...

SomeoneSomewhere

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#2573596 24-Sep-2020 16:07

There are some variants intended for the US or Chinese market that don't include all the bands we use here. They'll probably work, but you won't have coverage or will fall back to 3G coverage in rural areas.

The important one is Band 28 (700MHz - note there are other variants of 700MHz out there).

Most phones will have bands 3, 7 (Vodafone and Spark), and 8.

40 is also growing in urban areas but it's not so critical.

steevg

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#2573670 24-Sep-2020 17:15

Thanks for the quick replies.

I'm interested in an unlocked USA Galaxy Note 10 plus (Snapdragon model - SM-N975U1 - USA unlocked) and am confused about whether they may be compatible for use here in NZ.

I came across these pages which outlines the requirements & LTE specs:

https://www.gsmarena.com/network-bands.php3

https://www.gsmarena.com/network-bands.php3?sCountry=United+States

https://www.gsmarena.com/samsung_galaxy_note10+-9732.php

Potentially something like this one:

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/314310882915627

But need to be sure it;ll work here.

Called Samsung tech, in both USA and NZ but they advised me to call my Cell Phone provider. Thats OK here, but if it's unlocked from any network in the USA . . . . ????

Thanks

Linux

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#2573676 24-Sep-2020 17:22

The issue would be the 700Mhz not supporting band 28 but 700 for USA

To be honest I would avoid a handset from the USA