LTE not available on LTE enabled network in Belgium (Belgacom)

an iPhone5 seems to have configuration settings in order to connect to an 4G or LTE network.

These configuration settings are not included in the "default carrier settings" that an iPhone uses when a "non-partner" carrier is used.

It is up to Apple and Belgacom/Proximus to talk to each other and have these settings applied to an iPhone. Either include this information in the default carrier settings, OR send a carrier update for the proximus simcards.

I would like to suggest everyone suffering from this problem to contact Apple Support.

• Go to http://www.apple.com/benl/support/contact
• Choose "iPhone" and "Internet and Airprint"
• Choose "subject not listed" and type "4G proximus" or something similar
• Choose "talk to Apple Support", they'll call you back after a few minutes
• Choose option 1 (talk to a advisor) at the computer-voice-menu

Explain to the Helpdesk operator that you are using Proximus simcard in an iPhone 5, and that you only have a "enable 3G" switch in settings > general > cellular. Ask to be transferred to the Senior Advisor, and explain the problem again. The senior advisor can escalate your ticket to Apple.

There's a chance things will start moving faster if they receive a lot of these tickets...

Just a little reminder for everyone with this problem. Please call Apple Support to tell them again and again about this problem. The problem will only get more priority if a lot of people call.

• Go to http://www.apple.com/benl/support/contact
• Choose 'More information' (next to the screwdriver and wrench)
• Choose "iPhone"
• Choose 'take contact with apple support - choose subject'
• Choose "Internet and Airprint"
• Choose "subject not listed" and type "4G proximus" or something similar
• Choose "talk to Apple Support now",(enter your serialnumber and phonenumber) they'll call you back after a few minutes
• Choose option 1 (talk to a advisor) at the computer-voice-menu

Tell them that the 4G doesn't work for Proximus on your iPhone5, and ask to be transmitted to the Senior Advisor.

https://discussions.apple.com/___sbsstatic___/apple/tutorial/tou.html

Section 2:

Submissions

Stay on topic. Apple Support Communities is here to help people use Apple products and technologies more effectively. Unless otherwise noted, do not add Submissions about nontechnical topics, including:

1. Speculations or rumors about unannounced products.
2. Discussions of Apple policies or procedures or speculation on Apple decisions.

KiltedTim wrote:

https://discussions.apple.com/___sbsstatic___/apple/tutorial/tou.html

Section 2:

Submissions

Stay on topic. Apple Support Communities is here to help people use Apple products and technologies more effectively. Unless otherwise noted, do not add Submissions about nontechnical topics, including:

1. Speculations or rumors about unannounced products.
2. Discussions of Apple policies or procedures or speculation on Apple decisions.

AFAIK this is not a policy, unless it is a policy to willingly discriminate networks? Or is it a decision?

Haa, who knows, right? I'm glad that you're still being ignorant.

By the way, you're still breaking those two rules. You're trolling us too.

How about taking a hike? 🙂

Oh if Apple doesn't disable LTE, can you explain me why I don't see an LTE toggle on my iPhone 5?

It's verry clear to me Apple is disabling the LTE functionality on certain carriers.

If the chip would be enabled I would have no problem connection to the Belgacom LTE network (it's technically compatible, they use the 1800Mhz band).

And like I said in my previous post, they enabled it for TESLA in Denkmark (a country and carrier I can't find on Apple's LTE page http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/).

Proof: http://9to5mac.com/2012/11/01/whats-new-in-ios-6-1-beta-maps-bugs-reporting-lock screen-music-more/

Bedankt Joske....klaar en duidelijk.

Vraag me wel af vanwaar komt het "remove" ipcc bestand.

Is dit het originele 14.0.0 carrier bestand van iOS6.1 ?

Alvast bedankt.

Ik bevestig hierbij ook dat het werkt op een iphone 5 in Antwerpen.

It all comes down to the fact that Proximus is no "partner carrier" of Apple for its iPhone/iPad devices.

The official list of all Apple's Partners Carriers can be found on Apple's website: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937 .

Specific information about a carrier is stored in "Carrier Settings" or "Carrier Bundles".

Based on the MMC/MCN number stored on a (mini)SIM/MicroSim/NanoSIM card, and iPhone knows what carrier bundle to use.

Configuration stored in a carrier bundle are (for example and not limited to) : voicemail number, APN settings, visual voicemail support/information, etc etc.

In the past it was possible to load these carrier bundles on your iPhone/iPad by using IPCC files. Since iOS4 (?) Apple needs to "sign" these IPCC files. An iPhone won't accept the configuration in an unsigned IPCC file.

(unless you jailbreak and patch CommCenter, to remove the check for the signature)

Apple has information about these configurations: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1970

This is a list of all MMC/MCN numbers: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mobile_Network_Code

Only Partner Carriers have preloaded their configuration on all iPhone/iPad devices.

These preloaded or "stock" bundles are stored on an iPhone/iPad in this directory: /System/Library/Carrier Bundles/

If a Partner Carrier wants to update this information, it can release a "Carrier Update" and then it will be stored in this directory: /var/mobile/Library/Carrier Bundles/

These Carrier updates can be downloaded from Apple's website: http://iphonediags.apple.com/version.xml and can be delivered to an iPhone/iPad via OTA (in previous versions, Carrier updates were send/installed through itunes.)

An iPhone will check if there is an update for its carrier settings when you access settings > general > about.

(again, jailbreakers can confirm this information)

Carriers that are no "Partner Carrier" of Apple's, fall back to a general set of carrier settings.

This is the reason why we need to manually configure the APN settings of Proximus on an iPhone/iPad.

An iPhone/iPad simply does not have that APN information, because there is no carrier bundle with the information.

Mobistar on the other hand _is_ a Partner Carrier, and that is why the APN settings are configured when inserting a Mobistar SIM in an iPhone/iPad.

For this specific problem (no 4G on the Proximus network on an iPhone/iPad) it comes down to this:

For some reason or another an iPhone needs specific information about the carrier's 4G network to be able to connect. This information is _not_ included in the "general" carrier settings.

I can imagine Proximus has contacted Apple about their settings for their 4G network. But since Proximus is no Partner Carrier, Apple seems not intended to release a Carrier Update just for Proximus.

Remarcable, because they did release a carrier update in the past for the iPad, there is a carrier bundle on Apple's website:

MBP:~ geert$ curl -s -L http://phobos.apple.com/version | grep -i proximus

<string>Proximus_be</string>

<key>Proximus_be</key>

<string>http://appldnld.apple.com/iPhone/CarrierBundles/061-8651.20100903.gftr4/Proximus _be.ipcc</string>

<string>http://appldnld.apple.com/iOS5/CarrierBundles/041-6184.20120608.Ytxir/Proximus_b e_iPad.ipcc</string>

<string>Proximus_be</string>

Anyway, there is nothing we can do. Proximus would very much want to enable 4G on our iPhones, but since they don't do business with Apple, it's likely it will take a while - and it is even unsure it will ever happen.

I already send an e-mail to Tim Cook, and I would like to suggest to anyone suffering from this problem to do the same...

Bought my iPhone through Mobistar, and I have model number MD299NF.

On the back of the iPhone is model number A1429.

Verify here: http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/ and here http://support.apple.com/kb/HT3939?viewlocale=en_US&locale=en_US

Yes it's the same APN

for everybody, plz go in the setting of this website, there https://supportprofile.apple.com/PramsAddRegisterProduct.do

and register your device

then, restart and check if the LTE is present in your device

Sigh... you still don't seem to understand.

Here is a list of supported carriers: http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1937

You'll notice that Belgacom is NOT on this list.

That means that they are NOT a supported carrier.

That means Apple isn't going to do anything about it. They are not going to supply a carrier update to someone that is not a business partner.

You can whine and complain about it all you want. It is not going to change reality.

Google better next time.

http://support.apple.com/kb/ht1937 and push "Europe" obviously

Clearly stated that Mobistar & Telenet are supported carriers, but arent supported for LTE.

I'm feeling sorry for my own country now.. Are you guys trying to look a bit dumb on purpose.. Jeezes

When your carrier shows up on this list: http://support.apple.com/kb/HT1937

Then you may feel free to whine and complain all you like. Until then, there is NO SUPPORT from Apple for using your phone on that carrier in any capacity at all.

If you believe it's illegal, then call a lawyer or complain to your government.

I hope this cleared things up for you, but I have no doubt you're going to keep right on spouting the same useless nonsense.

We don't give a **** about that list. The point is: we went to a shop and bought a phone that "officially" supports the LTE 1800 MHz standard. Then we put our Proximus SIM card into that phone, and we find out that it doesn't want to connect to the LTE 1800 MHz network of Proximus, because Apple blocked this in its carrier bundles. Phones from other manufacturers that support the LTE standard can connect to any LTE network in the world without any problem (as long as the supported frequencies match). That's why they call it a standard.

To illustrate what kind of nonsense you are telling, I will make a comparison with the Wi-Fi standard. Suppose that a notebook manufacturer publishes a list with supported Wi-Fi Access Point (only from companies that have a contract with them), and their notebooks refuses to connect to Wi-Fi Access Points from other companies, because they are deliberately programmed like that. Another example: an FM radio device that can only receive FM radio stations that are on a "supported stations" list (and that have a contract with the manufacturer of the device). Would you accept that? Won't you complain?

Also, do you know what the following links are?

http://appldnld.apple.com/iPhone/CarrierBundles/061-8651.20100903.gftr4/Proximus _be.ipcc

http://appldnld.apple.com/iOS5/CarrierBundles/041-6184.20120608.Ytxir/Proximus_b e_iPad.ipcc

I'll tell you: they are carrier updates for the Proximus network. Strange huh, for a "not supported carrier"? Now Apple only needs to do the same for LTE on the iPhone 5. We will continue to complain until it has been done, because in Belgium we don't accept phones that are locked to a specific carrier.

I got word from an Apple Senior Advisor. It's not looking good for us guys...

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Waar wij vorige week van de kant van de provider berichten ontvingen dat zij het aanboden hebben wij gister een interne mail gekregen waarin staat dat wij het nog niet overal aanbieden. Het enige europese land is momenteel Duitsland. De rest zou volgen maar er is nog niet bekend op welke termijn. Blijkbaar moet er nog een update uitkomen die het mogelijk maakt.

Het spijt mij voor het ongemak. Ik doe u hierbij de link toekomen waar een overzicht staat van landen die het momenteel wel aanbieden. Mijn advies zou zijn om hier af en toe te kijken of Belgie ertussen staat.

http://www.apple.com/iphone/LTE/

Hopende u hiermee toch een beetje van dienst geweest te zijn.

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Way to go, Apple.

Those "rumors" are coming from Apple itself. Read this message: https://discussions.apple.com/thread/4484328?answerId=20290622022#20290622022

I do own an iPhone, and it's a great phone, but it's true that it has some limitations:

- Apple likes to keep things as simple as possible. Unfortunately this also has some disadvantages for more advanced users.

- Apple decides what you can install on your iPhone and what not. Unfortunately there are some great apps and tweaks that won't be approved by Apple and thus can only be installed after jailbreaking your iPhone.

- Apple products are designed (as much as possible) to work with other Apple products only.

- The iPhone doesn't have a user-replacable battery, although the battery is worn-out after 12-18 months.

- The fact that a phone of € 690 or more doesn't even have an FM radio tuner is simply ridiculous.

- Apple doesn't like to adhere to industry standards. They use their own connectors (30-pin dock connector, lighting connector, thunderbolt, etc.). Third-party accessory manufacturers have to pay a lot of money to Apple. Therefore the accessories are very expensive.

- etc.

I also recommend to do some comparisons before chanting quotes from Apple like "the best phone on the market":

http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=4910&idPhone2=4958

http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=4910&idPhone2=5001

http://www.gsmarena.com/compare.php3?idPhone1=4910&idPhone2=4967

For me, it's just a matter of taste. I'm no fanboy at all. I stay critical and I'll still have to decide if my next phone will be an iPhone or not. If Apple continues with jokes like this (programming its phones in such a way that they need to give their permission before you can connect to the LTE network of your carrier, and taking long time and requiring contracts and other ******** before giving this permission), then the choice will be an easy one!