Why is O2 mobile internet slow! Only getting 56kb

[Anonymous]

Come on tech guys, improve the network. Vodafone can get 2.2mbs why can't O2!

[Anonymous]

I have had useless speeds for months, luckily I don't use it for anything important just checking emails; but its is total rubbish. At this speed it should be free.

Please complete my Poll, Thanks!

viewtopic.php?p=280328#280328

[Anonymous]

Why do people associate 5 bars with access?
A little bit of knowledge for you

5 Bars show you the transmitters strength, it does NOT mean that you get access to that cell if its full, cells work on a "first come, first serve" basis, the only way this is overruled is for emergency calls, and those can use any network.
Your handset will always go for the nearest cell if possible, but its also looking at other cells in the area, normally about 3, if it cannot get on cell "A" for instance and you try making a call, it will see if cell "B" has any free channels, this is where you sometimes get a drop in the number of bars you see as its switched cells.
This happens on all cell types (2 and 3G), there are also things called "handovers", you normally get these when walking along on your phone (as we all know that talking whilst driving is not recommended by any mobile network operator) unless your a passenger

[Anonymous]

I have just used a friends contract SIM who is on an IPhone tariff in my Nokia 5800 and guess what, I had FAST internet for the first time since I've owned it!! (768kps) I did not change any of my settings.

When I tried the speed test again with my SIM I was back to my normal 55kps.

So the conclusion is, O2 know what phone you use and if you aren't on an IPhone tariff then you WILL get slow internet, typically around 55kbps.

I think this is widely unfair and is crazy as O2 are not the sole providers of IPhones like they were a while ago. I wonder if Nokia and HTC and the other companies realise their phones are deliberately slowed down on O2?

[Anonymous]

Because O2 is a bigger network, has more people on it, and it pretty much is the 'iPhone' network, as iPhone use the biggest share on O2 more than any other company.
Also it might be where you live.

O2 doesn't have a bigger network. It has one of if not the smallest 3G network. You are quite correct though, there are more people on it.

Poor 3G network + more subscribers than others = SLOW.

[Anonymous]

Hi Difbear,

But IPhone users clearly get priority.

[Anonymous]

I was getting ~21 kbp/s

I went to 02 yesterday, after convincing them that I had done everything possible, (hard rest, restore as new phone etct etc, they gave me a new sim, - what a suprise, now I'm up at 1000kbp/s.

[Anonymous]

Hi Difbear,
But IPhone users clearly get priority.

I'm not sure if that's the case ar not but the APN's are different so maybe.

Either way even on the iPhone it's still painfully slow compared to other networks.

[Anonymous]

I used exactly the same APN on my phone (O2 Active) so the only difference was on their end.

And to add to this I just did a speed test on a Dell Streak in an O2 shop and received a pathetic download speed of 31kps!! It then crashed and the screen froze so now everyone can see how slow O2 internet really is!

What O2 do which is very sneaky they make sure all the wifi capable phones are connected to their wifi hub (in Ispwich store at least) so when potential customers try the internet they get full speed broadband. Most punters probably don't realise this and thinks it's O2's 3G network.

[Anonymous]

Hi Difbear,
But IPhone users clearly get priority.

I can tell you for a fact that is not true, no phone gets priority for data or calls unless its an emergency services phone (call access only) or you call 112/999.

[Anonymous]

So why oh why does the data speed change so dramatically when an Iphone users SIM is inserted?

Seems pretty conclusive to me!