Learning how to check the 4G band of any smartphone might come in handy, especially now that almost all the telecommunication service providers now have their respective 4G LTE network connection.

3G is gradually fading out and 4G LTE is now becoming the new normal. There are even reports of 5G being in the works and should be out soon. Almost all smartphones being released these days are packing the 4G LTE feature.

The mechanics behind the 4G LTE feature that are making waves in recent smartphones is really not understood by most people. Although, I do not blame them as it is somewhat complex for the normal mind to fully comprehend unless you are tech inclined.

Most people these days assume that since their phone has 4G LTE capability. That they can insert any 4G LTE enabled sim and start browsing at the speed of light. However, this is not the truth. Unlike the 3G where that is highly possible, the case of 4G is different and somewhat complicated.

For a 4G enabled Sim to be able to work with the 4G enabled phone. The band the sim is running on has to be supported by the phone. If not, there is no way the two will work.

So it is Paramount, to not only know the 4G bands supported on your smartphone but to also know the respective bands our telecommunication service providers use for their respective 4G LTE services. So first, we will be listing all the major internet service provider we have in Nigeria and their bands.

Internet Service Providers And Their Respective 4G Bands

1. ⚫ MTN 4G LTE Bands – supports band 7 (2600MHz) & 20 (800MHz)
2. ⚫ Glo 4G LTE Band – supports band 28 (700MHz)
3. ⚫ 9Mobile 4G LTE Band – supports band 3 (1800MHz)
4. ⚫ Airtel 4G LTE Band: supports band 3 (1800MHz)
5. ⚫ NTel 4G LTE Bands – supports band 3 (1800MHz) and 8 (900MHz)
6. ⚫ SMILE 4G LTE Band: supports band 20 (800MHz)
7. ⚫ SPECTRANET 4G Band: supports band 40 (2300MHz)
8. ⚫ SWIFT 4G Band: supports band 40 (2300MHz)

Now that we know the 4G bands all the major internet service providers are on. We can now find out the band our smartphone supports and the sims we would be able to use on our smartphones.

How To Check The 4G Band Of Any Smartphone

Step 1

Before we begin this process make sure that your developer options are turned on by following the steps below:

⚫ Go to Settings

⚫ Scroll down and look for Developer Options, Click it then Toggle IT On and Move to Step 3.

Step 2

If you could not find the developer option in the settings menu, there is no need to Panic as you probably have not enabled the developer options. Just follow the steps below:

⚫ Go to Settings again.

⚫ Scroll down and click on About Phone.

⚫ Tap repeatedly on Build Number Till you see No need, you’re already a developer. Then go back to Step 1.

Step 3

⚫ Dial *#9646633#

⚫ Click on BandMode

⚫ Select the SIM you’re using for Data connection, be SIM 1 or SIM 2.

⚫ Scroll down to LTE Mode and you will see all the bands supported by your phone ticked. The ones not ticked are not supported by your phone.

Conclusion

Knowing the bands a phone supports is good in order to determine the network provider you plan to use with it. Imagine buying a phone with 4G LTE capability and hoping to use GLO with it. Only to find out after you have bought the phone that the phone does not support GLO 4G LTE band. Disappointing right?

That is why one should check the 4G band of any smartphone before purchasing it. So that there would be no regret or being forced to use the network whose 4G LTE is supported by the device you bought.