Using a N. America GSM quadband phone in Asia (not Japan & Korea) and Europe for 3G internet

[Internet_Tough_Guy]

Alright, this is basically a repost from the Tmobile Galaxy Note 2 subforum, but there's minimum activity there, as since the GN2 shares the same quad-band frequency as the S3, and b/c this is more active forum, I thought I'll pose this question here:

I've unlocked my T-Mobile Galaxy Note 2. I plan to use this phone during my travels in Asia and Europe by buying local prepaid simcards. (I'm not open to relaying on free wifi, or buying the international plan from my carrier for coverage and cost reasons). However, i'm very confused whether I can receive voice and 3G internet coverage on my phone when I buy a GSM pre-paid card in Asia and Europe.

I noticed that Asian (except Japan & Korea) and European countries uses GSM 900 and 1800 frequencies but also uses 2100 for HSPA coverage. So it appears voice coverage would work given we have a quad band phone: 850, 900, 1800, 1900MHz, and the 1800 overlaps in this case. Is this true?

What about 3 G internet?
Does this mean that b/c my T-Mobile GN2s also use 2100 here for HSPA+ downstream, we can access Asian and European 3G internet speeds on a prepaid GSM sim card b/c they're on 2100? (Note T-Mobile uses 1700/2100 pairing for for HSPA+ and LTE)

thanks.

 

[Christopher Matthews Jr]

The answer is yes. You can receive calls, and have access to 3G (90% of Europe and China uses 2100 frequency.) I bought and have used an international phone from China here in the states on ATT and it gets 3G just fine.

 

[Internet_Tough_Guy]

The answer is yes. You can receive calls, and have access to 3G (90% of Europe and China uses 2100 frequency.) I bought and have used an international phone from China here in the states on ATT and it gets 3G just fine.

so basically, as long as the phone has access to 2100 mhz, regardless of how it's using 2100 here in the US (in my case 2100 is downstream on Tmobile's HSPA+), I should be able to access the international 2100 3G network?

 

[Christopher Matthews Jr]

so basically, as long as the phone has access to 2100 mhz, regardless of how it's using 2100 here in the US (in my case 2100 is downstream on Tmobile's HSPA+), I should be able to access the internation 2100 3G network?

Yes. T-Mobile uses the 2100 band for downstream ONLY. It uses the 1700 for upstream.

I have a friend that uses a China mobile device, that utilizes the 850/2100 band for WCDMA. He can use it and get 3G on ATT, because they use the 850 band. Even though he doesn't have the 1900 band ATT also uses for 3G.

Tapatalked from my Nexus 10

 

[Internet_Tough_Guy]

so after extensive researched, I think I was able to answer my question.

For voice, I have a phone that is GSM quad band, but in short, GSM 1800 MHz covers voice across the globe. (even though USA doesn't use GSM 1800 for voice)

For data, the areas I mentioned mostly uses UMTS 2100 or UMTS Band 1. My specific phone covers UMTS 2100. So I'm good to go with 3G data coverage.

LTE: Ha! US is on a completely different frequency bands

 

[Christopher Matthews Jr]

so after extensive researched, I think I was able to answer my question.

For voice, I have a phone that is GSM quad band, but in short, GSM 1800 MHz covers voice across the globe. (even though USA doesn't use GSM 1800 for voice)

For data, the areas I mentioned mostly uses UMTS 2100 or UMTS Band 1. My specific phone covers UMTS 2100. So I'm good to go with 3G data coverage.

LTE: Ha! US is on a completely different frequency bands

Good to know you found the answer!

And yes, LTE frequencies are apples to oranges haha

Tapped from my Nexus 10.1