Sidebar Sidebar
Become a MacRumors Supporter for $50/year with no ads, ability to filter front page stories, and private forums.

International 4G iPad Models Will Work on AT&T, Not on LTE in Home Countries

MacRumors

MacRumors

macrumors bot
Original poster
Apr 12, 2001
68,083
38,825



As highlighted by SlashGear yesterday, the Wi-Fi + 4G iPad announced by Apple on Wednesday and launching in ten countries next Friday will not be compatible with LTE networks under development in most of the launch countries. Apple's LTE discussion during the media event focused on five carriers in the United States (AT&T and Verizon) and Canada (Bell, Rogers, and Telus), noting that international markets would have other options available for cellular connectivity.

ipad_lte_signal.jpg

The issue with international LTE availability stems from the fact that the AT&T version of the new 4G iPad released in the United States supports LTE on the 700 Mhz and 2100 MHz frequency bands. Apple is distributing that same model to its international markets, but LTE implementations in most of those countries are utilizing 800 Mhz, 1800 Mhz, and 2600 MHz bands that are not supported by the device.
The new iPad WiFi + 4G put up for pre-order in Europe yesterday supports the same 700MHz and 2100MHz LTE bands as the AT&T version in the US; however, actual LTE roll-out in Europe is expected to use the 800MHz, 1800MHz and 2600MHz bands.

That means, even if commercial LTE networks become more commonplace in Europe - which has for the most part remained using the faster variants of 3G technology, such as DC-HSDPA, which the new iPad also supports - the Apple tablet is unlikely to be compatible with them.
Click to expand...
Apple has confirmed to The Verge that those international 4G iPad models can be used on AT&T's LTE network in the United States by travelers, even though they will not have LTE support at home. According to Apple:
iPads sold internationally will be able to connect to AT&Ts LTE network when in the US with the appropriate SIM and plan.
Click to expand...
The iPad 4G LTE model sold for Verizon in the United States is an exclusive to that carrier for at least the time being, with its LTE compatibility limited to only the 700 MHz band in line with the carrier's implementation of the technology.

Article Link: International 4G iPad Models Will Work on AT&T, Not on LTE in Home Countries
 
Article Link
https://www.macrumors.com/2012/03/09/international-4g-ipad-models-will-work-on-att-not-on-lte-in-home-countries/
That's why I bought the Verizon model-supports more bands in the end.

I don't see why the Verizon one can't support 2100 LTE also...seems easier for consumers if its one model. Would love to be able to use it on AT&T's network if its faster where I am though. I suppose I can for 3G if I desire.
 
Is there a chip which supports all spectra? I don't want to see a fragment new iPhone this year.
 
So Apple is selling two variants of the 4G iPad (for each capacity) only in the US? All other countries only get one 4G model per capacity.
 
That's not good. Maybe they will slightly rework the internals of this latest iPad in the next few months (but before "iPad 4") to address this?
 
I really wish Apple refrained from using 4G in the name of the cellular network it is able to attach to. Outside of the ratified 4G standard (Which LTE Advanced is part of), 4G means different things, to different people / companies around the world.

This confusing mix of what works where, is only compounded by their adopting that tag name.
 
Considering that 4G is virtually non-existant in Europe (barring very small pockets) this won't affect anyone there anyway until they roll it out--which I've read would take a few more years still. This would pose a problem for people who don't wish to upgrade when a new iPad comes out that does support the required LTE frequencies though and would keep it for 2 or 3 years.

My guess is that LTE chips covering the multitude of frequencies in addition to all the other 3G bands is probably not good enough yet, so they chose to put in what was available.
 
840quadra said:
I really wish Apple refrained from using 4G in the name of the cellular network it is able to attach to. Outside of the ratified 4G standard (Which LTE Advanced is part of), 4G means different things, to different people / companies around the world.

This confusing mix of what works where, is only compounded by their adopting that tag name.
Click to expand...

You can thank AT&T for that.
 
Buy a wifi model, and then use the local carrier's wifi hotspot. What's the problem?
 
What about using it in Japan or Taiwan? Is it compatible in asia? I travel to both countries alot.
 
:confused: Does anyone know if the new iPad with wifi+4G that will be sold in the US is able to default to 3G in those countries that don't support it?

For example, I buy a new iPad with wifi+4G in the US, but take a trip to Germany. Since the LTE chip won't support German LTE networks, will it default to 3G?

Thanks!
 
Why can't these stupid telecommunication companies talk to each other and have a standard frequency for LTE. This was the perfect time for all these companies in different countries to agree on a standard, instead they created the same mess like on the 2G and 3G, everybody has a different frequency. :mad:
 
Bah, if only Apple weren't an American company.... I'm sure yesterday they heard for the first time that the rest of the world uses different bands.
 
Detlev_73 said:
:confused: Does anyone know if the new iPad with wifi+4G that will be sold in the US is able to default to 3G in those countries that don't support it?

For example, I buy a new iPad with wifi+4G in the US, but take a trip to Germany. Since the LTE chip won't support German LTE networks, will it default to 3G?

Thanks!
Click to expand...

Yes, you'll get 3G.
 
Next year's iPad will reduce the size of the battery to make room for all the antennas. ;)
 
LTE is in use in Germany + Austria,

bec the Goverments regulated the Networks in the Way that they have to bring LTE to the countrysides first..

This is now in use so the NEtworks start more and more Cities too.

This was done bec many of this areas have no UMTS/HSDPA right now.

But yes, we cannot use the iPad "3" so i canceled my preorder and i dont know...

BEC: As i mentioned above: LTE dont need UMTS/HSDPA so right now this means for many areas in Germany/Austria (excl the cities)

LTE yes, UMTS/HSDPA no - so the ipad could only use GPRS and who needs this in 2012?
 
clibinarius said:
That's why I bought the Verizon model-supports more bands in the end.

I don't see why the Verizon one can't support 2100 LTE also...seems easier for consumers if its one model. Would love to be able to use it on AT&T's network if its faster where I am though. I suppose I can for 3G if I desire.
Click to expand...

Probably because the Verizon version needs CDMA, while the AT&T/International version does not.

Come to think of it, this is also probably why the AT&T models are in shorter supply than the Verizon models. It isn't necessarily that so many people in the US are choosing AT&T vs. Verizon, it is that everyone outside the US who is ordering one is drawing from the same pool as AT&T.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Register on MacRumors! This sidebar will go away, and you'll see fewer ads.
Top Bottom
Back