Cell C selective LTE-A / 4G+

[DeTector]

Today I discovered something interresting whilst investigating slow speeds on Cell C. In Somerset-West on a Galaxy A7 2017 I noticed in service mode that it connects to either band 1 / 2100mhz for 4G or sometimes band 3 / 1800mhz but it does not aggregate like it used to.

The phone previously never showed 4G+ but it did aggregate the two bands in service mode.

In the exact same location with a Galaxy A9 2018 it shows 4G+ and in service mode aggregates the two bands.

The A7 2017 is a LTE-A / 4G+ capable phone and was marketed as such when initially purchased.

In last months franchise booklet I noticed that some phones are marketed as 4G and some as 4G+. This months booklet makes no mention of it at all.

Some of the phones marketed as 4G only is actually 4G+ capable.

My question is why is Cell C doing this? Network can't cope with all the demand? How is it even possible for them to control this?

It cuts download speeds in half!

 

[cavedog]

It's a Samsung thing. Samsung only shows 4G+ if 2 or more bands are aggregated and the total aggregated bandwidth is 20MHz or more. Samsung allows network to adjust this but they need to log a request with Samsung to do this. They do it for some phones like S8 and others.

Huawei and other Chinese phones and routers shows 4G+ if any bands are aggregated no matter the bandwidth.

 

[DeTector]

It's a Samsung thing. Samsung only shows 4G+ if 2 or more bands are aggregated and the total aggregated bandwidth is 20MHz or more. Samsung allows network to adjust this but they need to log a request with Samsung to do this. They do it for some phones like S8 and others.

Huawei and other Chinese phones and routers shows 4G+ if any bands are aggregated no matter the bandwidth.

Hi cavedog. Perfectly understand this BUT it still needs to aggregate the two bands even while not showing 4G+ on screen. It doesn't aggregate at all. Can only use one band at a time. It used to do it...

 

[cavedog]

Hi cavedog. Perfectly understand this BUT it still needs to aggregate the two bands even while not showing 4G+ on screen. It doesn't aggregate at all. Can only use one band at a time. It used to do it...

Yeah might just be a network thing. I do notice that Huawei don't mess around when it comes to carrier aggregation. It always shows 4G+ on Cellc and connects to Vowifi always so I think the phone plays a role too.

 

[DeTector]

Yeah might just be a network thing. I do notice that Huawei don't mess around when it comes to carrier aggregation. It always shows 4G+ on Cellc and connects to Vowifi always so I think the phone plays a role too.

I'll try it in a different location and see what happens. Might be a network fault

 

[dotcat]

Yeah might just be a network thing. I do notice that Huawei don't mess around when it comes to carrier aggregation. It always shows 4G+ on Cellc and connects to Vowifi always so I think the phone plays a role too.

I noticed my B618 used to show 4G+ with the MTN Cell C coverage but now no longer does. Also Cell C's coverage map no longer shows 4G+. My phone however continues to show 4G+. Strange.

 

[DeTector]

I noticed my B618 used to show 4G+ with the MTN Cell C coverage but now no longer does. Also Cell C's coverage map no longer shows 4G+. My phone however continues to show 4G+. Strange.

Glad to hear I am not imagining things. What phone do you have and what is your location? Want to check if it is on their 4G+ phone list and if it is a different area than mine?

 

[cavedog]

I noticed my B618 used to show 4G+ with the MTN Cell C coverage but now no longer does. Also Cell C's coverage map no longer shows 4G+. My phone however continues to show 4G+. Strange.

Could also be MTN roaming because MTN has 3CA. B1+B3+B8. Not sure how it works out but the weekend I tested Cellc in a B618 and it showed 4G+ after I forced it though. Try forcing it with the huawei band tool

 

[DeTector]

Could also be MTN roaming because MTN has 3CA. B1+B3+B8. Not sure how it works out but the weekend I tested Cellc in a B618 and it showed 4G+ after I forced it though. Try forcing it with the huawei band tool

Would be interresting to know if Cell C is allowed to use MTN's 3CA. Also went to their site now and can confirm they removed LTE-A from their coverage map completely. They are also very careful to mention LTE-A on their deals page all of a sudden. Wonder what is going on?

 

[dotcat]

Could also be MTN roaming because MTN has 3CA. B1+B3+B8. Not sure how it works out but the weekend I tested Cellc in a B618 and it showed 4G+ after I forced it though. Try forcing it with the huawei band tool

I tried an MTN sim in a E5885 and no 4G+ . However Nokia 7 Plus - indicates 4G+ -

Just noticed Telkom is now broadcasting LTE on band 1 in my area.

Sector antenna part of the Tower ID changes for band (last 2 digits):
8544512 - band 40
8544522 - band 3
8544532 - band 1

Edited for accuracy....

 

[cavedog]

I tried an MTN sim in a E5885 and no 4G+ . However Nokia 7 Plus - indicates 4G+ -

Just noticed Telkom is now broadcasting LTE on band 1 in my area.

Tower ID changes for band:
8544512 - band 40
8544522 - band 3
8544532 - band 1

All the same tower. Also B1 is refarmed 3G spectrum on Telkom.

Could be the mofi does not support that aggregation. It's hard to see exactly what aggregation combinations routers support unless you get your hand on a technical data sheet of the router or mifi.

Most support Intra-Band Contiguous and Intra-band non Contiguous. The inter-band non contiguous is usually B1+B3+B8 or something like that and seldom FFD+TDD aggregation.

 

[dotcat]

All the same tower. Also B1 is refarmed 3G spectrum on Telkom.

Could be the mofi does not support that aggregation. It's hard to see exactly what aggregation combinations routers support unless you get your hand on a technical data sheet of the router or mifi.

This is what it's data sheet says:

LTE CA:

intra-band continuous: B3+B3，B38+B38，B40+B40，B41+B41;

intra-band non-contiguous: B41+B41;

Inter-frequency: B1+B3，B1+B20，B3+B20, B3+B5，B3+B7， B3+B8, B7+B8, B7+B20, B1+B19, B3+B19。

(note: B7+B8 only support B7as Primary Component Carrier) LTE FDD: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B20/B19
LTE TDD: B38/B40/B41(2555-2655MHz)

So should work but the fact that you now have to force the B618 may mean you have to do the same for the MIFI.

 

[cavedog]

This is what it's data sheet says:

LTE CA:

intra-band continuous: B3+B3，B38+B38，B40+B40，B41+B41;

intra-band non-contiguous: B41+B41;

Inter-frequency: B1+B3，B1+B20，B3+B20, B3+B5，B3+B7， B3+B8, B7+B8, B7+B20, B1+B19, B3+B19。

(note: B7+B8 only support B7as Primary Component Carrier) LTE FDD: B1/B2/B3/B4/B5/B7/B8/B20/B19
LTE TDD: B38/B40/B41(2555-2655MHz)

So should work but the fact that you now have to force the B618 may mean you have to do the same for the MIFI.

Yes try using the .bat files huawei band tool. B1+B3 is supported so it should work. You should also be able to force B3+B8 if MTN allows Cellc roaming with carrier aggregation. Should also work with B1+B3 on Telkom and B40+B40 on Telkom so you have a nice choice of 4G+ options there. I think you just might need to force it with the band tool. It might want to prefer B3 LTE only.

 

[DeTector]

Would love to know if anyone can confirm in outlying areas if they are able to utilise MTN's 3CA on Cell C?

 

[cavedog]

Would love to know if anyone can confirm in outlying areas if they are able to utilise MTN's 3CA on Cell C?

I doubt MTN will be doing B8 LTE in outlaying areas as they would still want to keep that for 2G and 3G 900MHz

 

[dotcat]

Could also be MTN roaming because MTN has 3CA. B1+B3+B8. Not sure how it works out but the weekend I tested Cellc in a B618 and it showed 4G+ after I forced it though. Try forcing it with the huawei band tool

Ok I see the 4G+ is back on the B618 - cellc roaming on MTN. Automatic - not forced via tool.