Mysterious UMTS-900
Many people think that each of the mobile operators owns one mobile network. In fact, it is not. Each of the operators has several different networks operating at different frequencies in different standards, just modern phones and other devices are able to move from one network to another imperceptibly for the subscriber, even during a call.
If we talk about the Big Three operators and “standard” mobile networks (those that use phones with regular SIM cards), each operator has at least three networks:
• 2G GSM-900 Mhz Network
• 2G GSM-1800 Mhz Network (DCS)
• 3G UMTS-2100 Mhz (WCDMA) network
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The distribution of frequencies can be seen here on this grand picture (click on it to open the full-size image in a new window).
Source: www.exclusive-comfort.ru/faq-chastoty-svyazi-gsm.shtm
There is no other network in this picture - UMTS-900 Mhz. This is a very mysterious and interesting network. You will not find any mention of UMTS-900 on the sites of operators, however, Megafon and MTS have these networks in many places in Moscow and the Moscow region.
Here is some information about the launch of these networks: MTS , Megafon .
The 3G UMTS-900 network is interesting for many reasons. Due to the low frequency, the signal penetrates inside buildings better; moreover, the distance from the base station to the mobile device can be significantly higher than in the UMTS-2100. This makes it possible to develop the network in rural areas easier and faster. Due to the low workload, the speed of the mobile Internet in the UMTS-900 is much higher.
Low network load is the result of the fact that not all phones and mobile devices support it (for example, the popular E1550 modem does not support), besides many phones with a weak UMTS-2100 signal and a strong UMTS-900 for some reason remain connected to the UMTS-2100.
Unfortunately, there is no manual choice between UMTS-900 and UMTS-2100 in phones and modems. Surely, there are still some ways of choosing hidden from the user, for example, we managed to find AT commands for the E367 modem: w3bsit3-dns.com.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=254801&st=60 . Perhaps there are ways to choose and for phones on Android.
Official UMTS-900 coverage maps do not seem to exist. There is a folk map on the Megafon forum: forum.megafonmoscow.ru/?topic=18446 , but apparently it is outdated and now the coverage is much more.
In the same forum there is a big topic about UMTS-900: forum.megafonmoscow.ru/?topic=17827 .
I ran into the UMTS-900 network at the dacha in Vnukovo when testing the Megaphone 4G modem
( habrahabr.ru/post/144239 ) and now I constantly use there mobile 3G Internet in the UMTS-900 network at very comfortable speeds.
If we talk about the Big Three operators and “standard” mobile networks (those that use phones with regular SIM cards), each operator has at least three networks:
• 2G GSM-900 Mhz Network
• 2G GSM-1800 Mhz Network (DCS)
• 3G UMTS-2100 Mhz (WCDMA) network
')
The distribution of frequencies can be seen here on this grand picture (click on it to open the full-size image in a new window).
Source: www.exclusive-comfort.ru/faq-chastoty-svyazi-gsm.shtm
There is no other network in this picture - UMTS-900 Mhz. This is a very mysterious and interesting network. You will not find any mention of UMTS-900 on the sites of operators, however, Megafon and MTS have these networks in many places in Moscow and the Moscow region.
Here is some information about the launch of these networks: MTS , Megafon .
The 3G UMTS-900 network is interesting for many reasons. Due to the low frequency, the signal penetrates inside buildings better; moreover, the distance from the base station to the mobile device can be significantly higher than in the UMTS-2100. This makes it possible to develop the network in rural areas easier and faster. Due to the low workload, the speed of the mobile Internet in the UMTS-900 is much higher.
Low network load is the result of the fact that not all phones and mobile devices support it (for example, the popular E1550 modem does not support), besides many phones with a weak UMTS-2100 signal and a strong UMTS-900 for some reason remain connected to the UMTS-2100.
Unfortunately, there is no manual choice between UMTS-900 and UMTS-2100 in phones and modems. Surely, there are still some ways of choosing hidden from the user, for example, we managed to find AT commands for the E367 modem: w3bsit3-dns.com.ru/forum/index.php?showtopic=254801&st=60 . Perhaps there are ways to choose and for phones on Android.
Official UMTS-900 coverage maps do not seem to exist. There is a folk map on the Megafon forum: forum.megafonmoscow.ru/?topic=18446 , but apparently it is outdated and now the coverage is much more.
In the same forum there is a big topic about UMTS-900: forum.megafonmoscow.ru/?topic=17827 .
I ran into the UMTS-900 network at the dacha in Vnukovo when testing the Megaphone 4G modem
( habrahabr.ru/post/144239 ) and now I constantly use there mobile 3G Internet in the UMTS-900 network at very comfortable speeds.
Source: https://habr.com/ru/post/146103/
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