4G service with non-4G based tariff

[anticpated]

OK recently, I was in Edinburgh over the holidays to see if there was any sale bargains and what not. I noticed that the signal indicator changed to 4G and the signal was mostly strong. So evidently this means if you have a 4G-capable mobile regardless if you have a 3G tariff, you can still access 4G (LTE) speeds providing you are in the correct area.

What confused me was, a couple of people said to me that you need a 4G SIM and contract to access this type of network. It looks like O2 have updated their networks to work using a hybrid system which will use the fastest transport possible - not restrict you by your SIM type.

I believe this is another grey area where people can tricked into paying more for something they normally can't access. So I don't know this is just an O2 easter egg or the same for all networks however all this means is the 4G tariff merely is just more data allowance not a key to the 4G network.

Anyway I thought it would interesting to mention to anybody with a 4G phone however yet to use the service.

[Anonymous]

Hi anticpated

That's definitely something I've not come across before.

Yes we are told a person needs

A compatible 4G phone, 4G SIM card and 4G tariff !!

[MI5]

I was of the belief that all o2 contracts had been upgraded to 4g now regardless?
Certainly all mine were, even the 100 min/100mb simo that I have....
When did you last do a sim swap? If your sim serial number starts with 4ggp then it is a 4g sim card already so would explain you receiving a 4g signal.

[Cleoriff]

So...let me check...I have a 4G phone with an old 3G sim in ....Are you saying that if I travel to a 4G area I will get 4G? If so, I never noticed that when I went to Coventry and Birmingham before Xmas...?

[Bambino]

No. You will not get 4G with a 3G sim.

[MI5]

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@Bambino wrote:

No. You will not get 4G with a 3G sim.

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Correct - I am guessing @anticpated has a 4g sim already.

[Cleoriff]

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@Bambino wrote:

No. You will not get 4G with a 3G sim.

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I didnt think so...but @anticpated  didn't specify what sim was in his phone?

I understand what he is saying about getting 4G whilst I presume he must be on a 3G tariff....but I just wanted all the info

[Cleoriff]

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@MI5 wrote:

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@Bambino wrote:

No. You will not get 4G with a 3G sim.

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Correct - I am guessing @anticpated has a 4g sim already.

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But on a 3G tariff then?

[anticpated]

I've never looked at the SIM code, although I can do that before I put it on charge. It has 4GPP2 on the Microsim, meaning the guy must have just done that at the swap-over. Until now, I never ever thought to look. I presume the 3G SIM's have a different code or are unmarked.

[Cleoriff]

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@anticpated wrote:

I've never looked at the SIM code, although I can do that before I put it on charge. It has 4GPP2 on the Microsim, meaning the guy must have just done that at the swap-over. Until now, I never ever thought to look. I presume the 3G SIM's have a different code or are unmarked.

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So you have a 4G sim but a 3G tariff...??