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Warning for Imported iPhone 5 users on Vodacom (updated)

Published by on Oct 3rd, 2012, 34 Comments

According to a post by Mybroadband, South Africans who have imported the new iPhone 5 from overseas where the phone has become available, have been experiencing problems with getting the phone to actually work in the country, that involve issues such as unsupported frequency bands and carrier specific software settings.

The software in the phones purchased from overseas have carrier specific settings built in which make it difficult, if not impossible, to use on our local networks.

However, the site does offer some pointers that may be helpful to consumers wanting to buy a new iPhone 5 before it’s launched in South Africa, predicted to be sometimes in early October. All the phones support all the GSM frequencies needed in SA, but the A1428 model should be avoided.

  • The A1428 (GSM model) might support South Africa’s frequencies, but it typically locked iPhones meant only for US and Canadian networks, and supports LTE frequencies of 4 and 17. Avoid.
  • The A1429 (CDMA model) does support the frequency bands to be used in SA but is actually intended for the USA market with the intention of also supporting CDMA related frequency bands. It does connect fine to GSM frequencies though, but also to LTE bands of 1, 3, 5,13 and 25. Works with MTN so far, but Vodacom drops 3G signal to this phone after a few minutes.
  • The A1429 (GSM model) is the model actually intended for markets such as SA. It supports our GSM frequencies, but also LTE bands of 1, 3 and 5. Works fine with MTN right now, but Vodacom drops 3G signal after a few minutes.

The A1429 (GSM) is available from markets like Hong Kong, which is often used by early adopters in South Africa. The A1429 (CDMA model) is meant for US CDMA based networks like Verizon, but also contains the necessary hardware to connect to GSM networks. It has been found that the A1429 (CDMA) model does actually include unlocked GSM access, so it should theoretically work with SA based SIM cards.

The issue is that right now the A1429 GSM model has some trouble maintaining a Vodacom 3G connection – there can be many reasons for this, but it is important to realize that Vodacom is still testing this phone in SA (despite them having Nano SIMs available already), and they have not updated the iPhone Carrier configuration file for Vodacom. MTN users are luckier – users who have been cutting their SIM cards to the new Nano size have decent network abilities.

Update: A Vodacom spokesperson confirmed that they are currently testing the network capability on the new iPhone, this will be ready in time for the launch. Vodacom also confirmed that this is not a Vodacom Nano SIM issue.

If you have imported an unlocked iPhone 5, please let us know how your experience has been? Have you found a fix for the GSM model’s troubles with Vodacom?

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Comments

  • Nick Cooke

    I brought in model A1429 with IOS Build 10A405 the gsm version. On vodacom i lose 3g. work around is simple but painful. When you lose data put 3g and data off and then go place in airplane mode, wait about three minutes and then take off airplane mode, put 3g on and then ata on, 3g comes back.

  • Nick Cooke

    works like a charm on mtn

  • http://www.bandwidthblog.com Minnaar Pieters

    Thanks for the tip Nick. What Carrier version are you running? Settings – General – About?

  • http://www.bandwidthblog.com Minnaar Pieters

    That is what we have been hearing so far.

  • Iain

    Guys I have 3G issues on an iphone4. Are you not reading into this? Could just be network?

  • http://www.ledula.com/ Joanne

    So basically we should just wait until they come out here to be safe?

  • Darryl

    thanks for the tip Nick. i have the same version.A1429, 10A405. your method of getting 3G to work is working. My carrier version is Vodacom 13.0

  • Theunis Jansen van Rensburg

    That is what I would suggest. It is going to be 2-4 weeks before they become available on Vodacom, so that isn’t too long of a wait. Not sure about the other carriers, though.

  • http://twitter.com/scrookson Sean Crookson

    Are these problems occurring on all iPhone5′s or just one model? Sounds like Vodacom scare tactics to increase local sales.

  • http://www.bandwidthblog.com Minnaar Pieters

    Hi Sean – no this is just an issue we spotted. We hope Vodacom will sort it out soon.

  • Craig

    IPhone users arent the only ones affected by Vodacom’s (new) network. My BB bold 9900 cdma phone (Verizon) suddenly stopped working 2 months ago. After a port to MTN everythings working perfectly.

  • Ctmac

    This article is slightly inaccurate. There is no difference between the two phones as regards GSM frequencies. They both cover the full spectrum. Apart from CDMA the other difference is the LTE channels that the phones support. Both models are not working properly on Vodacom although MTN users report that they work fine. This implies that Vodacom needs to run a software upgrade on its network. No reports on LTE yet – I don’t know if it is available anywhere on a test basis.

  • http://www.facebook.com/brennan.babb Brennan Babb

    We have both the A1429 and the A1428 and Both devices on vodacom have data issues. All other services appear to work and the devices are intermittently connecting to edge and 3G. Time to knip my MTN SIM and see how that goes. I always wonder if its a SIM issue or the Network issue, but it appears its a network issue.

  • Nick Cooke

    @minnaarpieters:disqus Ive got A1429 13.01 and version 6.0 10A405. Now heres the interesting thing i tested the A1428 gsm model from AT&T on mtn and its working with no issues. Works pretty good. Some good news is that A1429 on vodacom is working like a charm on Capetown and eastern cape.

  • Nick Cooke

    Trying to be an early adopter always sucks. Check out the stories on Verizon wi fi issues in the states with the iphone 5, this is an apple issue and Vodacom isnt to be blamed at all.

  • http://www.bandwidthblog.com Minnaar Pieters

    Not Verizon models.

  • Darryl

    is anyone also having problems connecting to Exchange Server when they are on the 3G with the A1429?. So you saying that vodcom just JHb need to upgrade their network?

  • http://www.bandwidthblog.com Minnaar Pieters

    Thanks for the feedback Brennan. Updated the article to mention that the CDMA model does work here. Keep us posted if the Vodacom network improves?

  • http://www.bandwidthblog.com Minnaar Pieters

    Is the A1428 model a specifically unlocked model? Then it should work here, it does support the right GSM frequencies.

  • http://www.bandwidthblog.com Minnaar Pieters

    That would be the safest option.

  • Nick

    It’s getting better I’m showing more time on edge and 3G and staying connected longer especially in the car traveling. For me I’m questioning how you can jump from 3G straight to gsm, edge only flashes for a couple of seconds.

  • G

    If you have the right model number… or in my case, it’s with a mate in London, I’ll collect in 2 weeks while I’m traveling…
    How would we be able to get these network specific settings? Eish Vodacom, resolve this quickly, I really don’t want to have to network port.

  • Nick Cooke

    @Minnaar, seems Vodacom have fixed and im going up and down from 3g to edge and gprs when driving on model A1429 (MD299ZP) Version 6.0 (10A404)with carrier detail Vodacom 13.0. I can switch 3g off and on without having to go through the airplane mode on and off. Safe to say its resolved. Well done Vodacom and thank you for sorting out for us early adopters, great to see that the customers are listened to. Im going to test model A1428 gsm AT&T model and see if it works.

  • Nick Cooke

    @Darryl did you resolve the Exchange issue? I had same issue and deleted the account and set up again, left SSL off and rebooted, then switched SSL back on and worked fine and still does.

  • Darryl

    hi Nick, yes it’s working now. was probably working together with the 3G problem. looks like i have 3G whenever i disconnect from wifi. i feel so much happier now. thanks for all the advice and help on this site. love it

  • http://www.bandwidthblog.com Minnaar Pieters

    Awesome – thanks for keeping us posted Nick. How did the AT&T unlocked model work?

  • http://www.facebook.com/brennan.babb Brennan Babb

    This occurred for us on both these models, A1428 and A1429 (GSM models) I just pulled out my MTN sim and popped my Voda SIM back in to check if it had been fixed, 3G did appear after a while which it did not do before, so I can confirm from my side that things are looking better. This seems to have occurred on the A1428 too.

  • http://www.facebook.com/brennan.babb Brennan Babb

    It is fixed and should work when you get back.

  • Nadmik

    I have the A1429, got it yesterday, been toggling data and 3G on and off, seems to work intermittently not ideal yet. Vodacom, based in Cape Town

  • Christiaan Brand

    I can confirm that the Vodacom problem with the iPhone5 has been corrected. You can bring in your A1429 model (CDMA and GSM or just GSM) without any issues!

  • Garth

    Hey all looking at bringing in the A1429 currently in NYC – can anyone confirm if Vodacom still having issues with this model.. Just not sure which US model will work back in SA.

  • http://twitter.com/thatErnst Ernst Lass

    I have the option of getting an iPhone 5 from the US. Will any of the network locked models work in SA? Can anyone help me with this?

  • http://www.elezea.com/ Rian van der Merwe

    This is probably old news by now, but just wanted to add that I just got an unlocked A1428 from the US, and calls + 3G work perfectly on Vodacom. I guess I’ll be out of luck when LTE launches though, because if I read correctly, Vodacom’s LTE bands will only be covered by the A1429.

  • Ants

    Hi guys. I have a a1428 gsm from the US. Its running ios6.0.1 on mtn. Everyhing works fine execpt when i turn on my location services. As i turn it on, my signal drops out. Turning the location service off again and rebooting, signal is back..
    Anybody have this problem?

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