To start with, T-Mobile is one of the best carriers in the United States. From having affordable plans to having good network coverage across the United States, there are is an array of benefits one can reap once he or she joins this carrier’s network. As a result, nearly 90% of American residents use this carrier’s services. Previously known as Cingular, AT&T was the first carrier to introduce the EDGE protocol in America. This actually happened in 2003 as a method of building on the GSM protocol.
Since then, the EDGE protocol has gained popularity and is used by a number of carriers. T-Mobile is one of those carriers that have appreciated the use of this protocol in the United States. In these subsequent sections, we shall outline the T-Mobile EDGE protocol and what you can do with it, alongside other related ideas.
What is EDGE Protocol?
First and foremost, EDGE is the acronym for Enhanced Data Rates for GSM Evolution. In simple terms, this is a 2G network that allows you to transfer data faster on GSM networks. When it comes to cellular technology, EDGE technology is quite old and outdated.
Compared to other technologies, this one is quite slow as it has download speeds of 135kbps. However, when it got launched, it used to be one of the cutting-edge technologies that one could ever imagine. However, with the introduction of 3G, 4G LTE and 5G networks, this one has become a lesser preference for many people living in the United States.
Why Do I See EDGE on a 4G LTE Subscription?
Sometimes, you might switch on your phone, only for you to see the EDGE icon on the network signal bar, yet you are on a 4G LTE Subscription. Ideally, you should not be seeing the ‘E’ symbol but rather the ‘4G’ or ‘5G’ symbol if you are on a 5G subscription. If you spot the ‘E’ symbol on your phone’s network signal bar, you should not panic as this is perfectly normal.
Even with T-Mobile, you are likely to see the ‘E’ symbol from time to time. Such is usually the case if you are in an area that has a weak 4G LTE network. Most carriers usually put more emphasis on being connected than having fast internet speeds because there is a need for you to be connected to a network that offers the best speeds at any given time.
As a result, your mobile phone will be connected to the EDGE network or 2G network at one time or another. If you are a T-Mobile user, you will still be connected to its network despite being on a remote area or in area where 4G or 5G network strength is weak or non-existent.
Thankfully, you will not be connected to the T-Mobile EDGE network for longer periods. As soon as you are in an area where it has a strong 4G network, be sure that your network mode will shift on the go. The bad news is that 2G network is quite slow and thus might not allow you to do a number of online activities more effectively.
Finally, your phone should not get stuck in the EDGE network. Instead, the network modes should alternate from time to time. In case you are stuck in the EDGE network, chances are that your phone or the T-Mobile network has issues.
What Should You do If Your Phone is Stuck on T-Mobile EDGE Network?
The last thing you would wish to experience is for your phone is stuck on the T-Mobile EDGE network for hours and fail to reconnect to this carrier’s original network. Thankfully, there are several interventions that can help you get started. These include:
1. Move close to a signal tower
If your phone has been stuck on EDGE network for hours, chances are that you have lost connection to a faster network. Other times, your locality might have a weak 4G or 5G signal. In this case, you should move closer to a signal tower and see if you will get a better connection. The good new is that this carrier’s towers are spread across the United States. Therefore, you will not miss one that is closer to your home or workplace.
To locate a cell tower close to you consider utilizing tools such as Cellmapper.net. As far as this tool is concerned, it is imperative to note that it only supports Windows 10 Mobile and Android models.
Therefore, you can visit any of their respective store and look out for it. Once you download and install it, launch it and then look out for the closest cell tower. After you identify one, move close to it and see if your device will reconnect to this carrier’s original network.
2. Restart your phone
In case you have moved to this carrier’s cell tower and your phone is still stuck on EDGE network, consider restarting your device. Chances are that there are some bugs that are hindering it from reconnecting to this carrier’s original network. Here, you just need to press and hold the power button of your phone and then choose either to switch it off of restart it.
Choose the latter option and see how it goes. Once you restart your phone, try to search for this carrier’s signal afresh and establish if it will connect to its original network or not. Ideally, once your phone turns on, you should be able to see the 4G or 5G icon on your phone’s network signal bar.
3. Modify the battery saver settings
Modern phones usually come with a battery management feature that helps them to conserve more power. Once you activate this feature, your phone will no longer connect to T-Mobile’s original 4G or 5G network. Instead, it will connect to the EDGE network in a bid to conserve more power.
In case this feature has been activated on your mobile device, turn it off and see if the phone will reconnect to the 4G or 5G network. To switch off the battery saver feature on Android, here are the steps that you should follow:
- Go to the Settings icon
- Tap on the ‘Battery’ or ‘Device care’ option
- Look out for the ‘Battery optimization’ or ‘Battery saver’ option
- In case it is switched on, switch it off on the go.
Better still, pull down the notification bar and locate the battery-saving feature. In case you spot it, tap it to switch it off. Once you are done, restart your phone and then see if your phone will reconnect to this carrier’s original network.
If you are using an iOS model, look out for the ‘Low Power Mode’ feature and then disable it. Here are the steps to get started:
- Go to the Settings icon on your iPhone
- Navigate to the ‘Battery’ section
- Look out for the ‘Low Power Mode’ feature and then switch it off.
Once you are done, restart your iPhone and see if you will be able to connect to this carrier’s 4G or 5G network.
4. Disconnect and then connect to this carrier’s network afresh
Besides the above-mentioned interventions, you can try to diagnose the problem by disconnecting your phone from this carrier’s network and then reconnecting it back. To achieve this goal, you can switch off your phone and remove the SIM card or just turn on the airplane mode.
Thereafter switch it and see if the phone will reconnect to T-Mobile’s 4G or 5G network. By doing so, you will be able to reconfigure the existing connection and thus allow you to reconnect to the much-needed 4G or 5G network.
5. Choose the right network mode
Your phone might be stuck on T-Mobile’s EDGE if at all you have only been allowed connecting to this network only. To enable your phone to connect to faster networks such as 4G or 5G, you need to enable the right network mode.
Ideally, most models usually have at least 3 or 4 main network types. These include the 2G, 3G, and 4G network. If you are using a recent model, it might have the 5G option. Since the strengths of these networks vary from one region to another, the best thing to do is to choose the auto-set mode so that your phone’s network signal can change from 2G to 5G when necessary.
6. Reset the current network settings of your phone
If you have tried all the above-mentioned measures to no success, consider resetting the network settings of your phone and see how it goes. To get started, you should go to the Settings icon on your phone, choose the ‘Reset’ button and then tap on the ‘Backup& Reset’ button. Click on the ‘Network’ option and then tap on ‘Reset Settings’.
By performing the above-mentioned action, you will be able to remove all the network settings such as:
- Bluetooth devices
- Paired devices
- Wi-Fi network passwords
Before these settings are erased, you will be prompted to key in your pin and then confirm it. Once you are done, you can restart your device and then search for this carrier’s network. For optimal results, choose the right network mode, and you will be good to go.