iPhone finally gets LTE from Telkom Mobile

[Azimuth]

I've seen no announcement about this so forgive me if it's old news.







Tested with an iPhone 5S.

 

[kooldude]

What did you do to get LTE on Telkom?

 

[Joker]

FTI to standard iPhone 5 users: Unfortunately it still won't work because the IP5 doesn't have support for Telkoms 2300Mhz LTE band.

 

[Azimuth]

Yeah, it'll be iPhone 5C and 5S only. And of course iPhone 6.

@kooldude: I think the LTE switch came with iOS 8.

 

[FMaree]

@Azimuth:
So now I'm curious as to how you got the LTE to work.

I got an iPhone 5S (Model A1530). Today I went to the Telkom shop at Fourways Crossing here in Gauteng and asked to get a prepaid SIM that will fit my 5S. The SIM I received still has the 8ta branding on it. I asked the sales person if the SIM is LTE enabled and she said yes. Got home, inserted the SIM in my phone. Loaded airtime and converted it to data. I enabled the LTE option under Setting / Cellular (I'm using iOS 8.0.2) and it stays on 3G. I live in Lone Hill and according to the Telkom Mobile coverage map I'm smack bang in the middle of LTE coverage. Also the carrier settings says I have TelkomSA 17.0

Any suggestions as what else I can try?

 

[JohnJuniorV3]

@Azimuth:
So now I'm curious as to how you got the LTE to work.

I got an iPhone 5S (Model A1530). Today I went to the Telkom shop at Fourways Crossing here in Gauteng and asked to get a prepaid SIM that will fit my 5S. The SIM I received still has the 8ta branding on it. I asked the sales person if the SIM is LTE enabled and she said yes. Got home, inserted the SIM in my phone. Loaded airtime and converted it to data. I enabled the LTE option under Setting / Cellular (I'm using iOS 8.0.2) and it stays on 3G. I live in Lone Hill and according to the Telkom Mobile coverage map I'm smack bang in the middle of LTE coverage. Also the carrier settings says I have TelkomSA 17.0

Any suggestions as what else I can try?

I also live in Lonehill and have noticed my LTE (MTN) isn't working.

Maybe try drive around and see if you pick up a signal?

 

[FMaree]

I also live in Lonehill and have noticed my LTE (MTN) isn't working.

Maybe try drive around and see if you pick up a signal?

Thanks. It was actually strange, after I posted here I went to bed, and got LTE signal for about 5 speed tests (speeds between 8Mbps and 15Mbps) and then it dropped back to 3G so I decided to go to sleep. At least now I know it's working and it's just a matter of signal. At work at the moment and it has a constant 3/5 bar LTE signal.

 

[sajunky]

I asked the sales person if the SIM is LTE enabled and she said yes. Got home, inserted the SIM in my phone. Loaded airtime and converted it to data

"8ta" SIM (black) cannot be LTE enabled, only Telkom Mobile SIM (blue), AFAIK.
Try SIM swap.

 

[FMaree]

"8ta" SIM (black) cannot be LTE enabled, only Telkom Mobile SIM (blue), AFAIK.
Try SIM swap.

I'm getting LTE on the black 8ta nano SIM. After confirming this morning at work it was just a matter of walking around with my phone to find the sweet spot at home. 2/5 bars LTE is not bad and I get between 8Mbps and 15Mbps.

 

[sajunky]

OK, someone posted it on this forum, I assumed to be correct.

 

[FMaree]

Just thought I'd give this follow-up real world test results. I've found a few spots where my LTE signal was 5/5 bars and then did a few speedtests, and here are the results:

Not too shabby. Now if only we could get decently-priced data...

 

[kingrob]

Holy smoke!!!!

66Mbps download speed!

 

[Azimuth]

Just an update, I disabled LTE on both my phones. It will screw up your phone good and solid with lasting repercussions. (Not necessarily physical damage but network settings that may ultimately require a restore)

The iPhone 5C/5S is not LTE ready on Telkom Mobile and the LTE switch in the settings menu should never have been exposed to customers.

At first you will notice occasional call problems, if not immediately. Then calls to/from your phone will become disabled. I've noticed since turning it off I still get occasional call problems which require rebooting - I never had these before.

Consider yourself warned.