You can make a difference in the Apple Support Community!

When you sign up with your Apple Account, you can provide valuable feedback to other community members by upvoting helpful replies and User Tips.

Looks like no one’s replied in a while. To start the conversation again, simply ask a new question.

The new iPad constantly losing cellular data connnection

My new iPad (3rd gen), 4G (AT&T) cannot seem to maintain a cellular data connection. The AT&T signal meter is still there (and shows 3 bars), but the "4G" disappears, and I get a "could not activate the cellular data network" error. I know it's not my location because it happens both at work and at home, and because my iPhone 4S and 1st gen iPad don't have the problem. I have already toggled cellular data on and off, restarted the iPad, reset network settings, and restarted again. No luck. Each time I restart, the connection works for about 30 seconds, and I can check my email, but then it immediately goes out again. Has anyone else had this problem?

iPad, iOS 5.1

Posted on Mar 19, 2012 1:50 PM

Reply
606 replies

Apr 11, 2012 6:32 AM in response to frank____

Apple just offered me a replacement iPad if I take it in this weekend, and if trying a new sim card doesn't work. I doubt a sim card will make any difference as this problem is clearly a worldwide issue - are the worlds sim cards suddenly all error prone? - and I'm thinking a replacement iPad won't solve it either...

Apr 11, 2012 8:26 AM in response to IwI1969

okay my stranger issue then dropping 3g.

Networks -uniqa(suriname) GSM/UMTS

-telesur(suriname) GSM/UMTS

-Digicel(suriname) GSM only


Ipad 3:

ATT roaming sim card goes on uniqa 3g without problems(takes about 1 min, ipad 2 10 seconds)

Uniqa's sim card doesn't go on 3g only edge

Telesur sim card show "no service"


Ipad 2:

ATT roaming sum card goes uniqa 3g withing 5 seconds

Uniqa sim card goes directly on 3g

Telesur sim card show edge or 3g

Apr 11, 2012 9:21 AM in response to scholarwilliams

Turning off LTE solves the problem for us. Here is our experience to date:


Our New iPad (32GB, WiFi, +4G for AT&T) arrived April 4th via FedEx. Set up went fine, restored from iCloud backup of Original iPad. WiFi worked fine, but couldn't get a cellular data connection. Took it to Apple Store Columbus, OH. They ran a diagnostic program and replaced it with a new model, serial # DMPH... I don't recall the serial # of the first unit.


We have experienced the problem of retaining the cellular connection for the last week. Called Apple Care today. The CSR said he had been there 17 months and said this was the first he had heard of the problem. I expressed surprise and said there were several discussion boards with many posts on the issue over the last three weeks.


He suggested resetting the Network Settings. I said that didn't work. The connection gets restored temporally, but seems to drop when switching towers. We get the same results by restarting the iPad. He suggested talking to a Genius.


So I took the time to read the ten pages of posts to this thread to get more info. Turning off LTE solves the problem for us.


I plan to stop by the Apple Store and make another incident report to keep them aware of the issue.

The new iPad constantly losing cellular data connnection

Welcome to Apple Support Community
A forum where Apple customers help each other with their products. Get started with your Apple Account.