Check Availability of 3G Services in Your Area [Tutorial]

By Aamir Attaa | Published Apr 25, 2014 | 3:58 pm

Samsug_H

While we know that 3G services will be commercially launched – in major cities of Pakistan – with-in few days, it would be a good idea to check if 3G services are already available at your location or not.

This can be specifically good because cellular companies are already testing 3G services at major locations in Islamabad / Rawalpindi, Karachi and Lahore. In Multan too, we have heard.

One more thing, at least two operators are allowing its customers to experience 3G services. Meaning that you can just join their 3G networks and start using 3G services.

Here’s a simple way to check if 3G services are available at your location or not:

3G Ready Phones

First of all, to use 3G service, you need to have a compatible 3G handset. No, not all handsets are 3G ready.

You can check compatibility of your handset with 3G networks by simply checking the network specification of your respective handset on GSM Arena or any other similar website.

Let’s take Huawei G610 as an example. According to GSM Arena, its network specifications are as following:

  • 2G Network: GSM 900 / 1800 / 1900 – SIM 1 & SIM 2
  • 3G Network: HSDPA 900 / 2100 – SIM 1

So its apparent that Huawei G610 is 3G compatible and hence can be used for below test.

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Also Read:

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Checking 3G Availability in Your City

As we mentioned above, cellular companies are already rolling out 3G networks in major cities. During this, you can switch to their 3G network and start using the service even before the commercial launch.

P.S. I am using 3G network for last few days, and experience has been smooth so far.

Note: We are using this Android phone running Android 4.3 for this Tutorial. iOS users and those using other platforms can follow the steps required with their own menus.

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Also read: Telenor’s Free 3G Can Cost You Thousands of Rupees

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Go to

  • Settings
  • click “More”

Screenshots

Now click on “Mobile Networks”

Screenshots2

Now on next screen, click on “Network Mode”

screen002

Here you will have to select “WCDMA (preferred) / GSM. This will enable your handset to search for 3G networks as well.

screen004

Now go back to “Mobile Network” screen and click on “Service Providers”

Now your phone will search for all available networks (both 2G and 3G) at your location.

When I searched, below was the result shown to me:

screen006

As it may appear to you, Ufone and Telenor networks have enabled 3G services at this location. Warid, Zong and Mobilink have just 2G networks here.

If your network has 3G enabled in your location and it is appearing in the list, then simply select the 3G version of your operator and you are done.

Once your phone is connected with 3G network, you can go to Settings->About Phone->Status to see “Mobile Network Type”, which in my case was HSPA.

Screenshots2

Please Note

While we have confirmed that 3G services during the trial period are free, you must keep an eye on your balance to make sure that you are not charged with any data services. Data charges with 3G networks can be explicitly high.

Do let us know if you were able to experience 3G network in your area or not.

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Aamir Attaa

Tech and telecom reporter for over 15 years


  • i have a 3 g phone after following these steps it says “your sim is not ready”

  • Hats Off to telenor for offering 3G Services from last 20-30 days for free in islamabad and Rawalpindi for free …

  • I’m getting really jealous, because In my area, there is no 3G coverage and
    you are using 3G free :)

  • Getting zong 3G signal in karachi but cant use it cuz i guess my sim does not support 3G!

  • Dial *7799# to check Telenor 3G service is available in you area or not. Sometimes it gives wrong information, one friend is using 3G it said to him not available.

  • I am using 3G on Telenor for last 20-30 days in F-10 nd F-11 Islamabad … they are only operator i think who allowed general customers to use 3G for free in testing phase …i must say thnx #telenor

  • i have zong sim and i m using Huawei G700 tht has 3G, Zong has bought both 3G n 4G, my question is will i get 3G service from Zong on my phone even they bought 4G as well ???

    • Bro! They have both licences 3G and 4G. If you want to use 4G just send a msg and subscribe it you will able to use 4G akin if you want to use 3G you can subscribe it via SMS.You can use both services, you can choose, what you want to use!

    • 4G for sometime will remain a marketing stunt from Zong. However you will start using 3G services within month if you are living in one of 5 major cities.
      Telenor however is rolling out 3G very fast nationwide

  • My phone is showing me that 3G is available for my network (ufone) but I’m unable to connect.. Help needed.

  • Aamir Bhai please answer my technical question? Will the voice quality be upgraded on 3G network WCDMA or will it remain the same on old 2G GSM network?? I’ve heard that voice quality is improved on 3G, please answer??

      • Also depends on whether the network has enabled and your phone supports ‘HD voice’ codecs.

      • First of all thank u for all those live updates yesterday. If there is a reward or shield that the government gives to those who offer unique special services like u did yesterday, u deserve it… Just a couple of questions, bare with me : 1) Which 3g networks are all the operators going to deploy? Would they start with normal UMTS 3g, then move along to HSPA, and then to HSPA+, or just start with the fastest one? 2) When Zong launches their 4g lte services, will they be Td-lte or Fdd-lte? Which would be better, or whether they would launch LTE-ADVANCED, the same technology they are going to deploy in their homeland China?… More than just a couple of questions, but u would really be a dear if answered them in a little detail :)

  • Hello Warid users! This post is not for u guys so don’t bother to check ur network stats until u switch to any other network. by the way, why are u still stuck to warid???

    • Hello Warid Users, keep your patience, you will find WARID on 4G LTE Network due having neutral license 1800 MHz which Warid purchased back in 2004 at the time of entry in Pakistan. Donot lose your heart.

        • Great .any way other operators cant improve their voice quality and peoples are expecting good data services from them ,i think these peoples are either Innocent or………………..
          Waiting for warid 4g they will really rock

          • Well the 3G speeds on mobilink are good. Here is a screenshot of the torrent speed, don’t mind the upload speeds, I have intentionally limited that. I get ~360 on PTCL 4Mbps, Mobilink 3G is twice that.

            • ooohhhlllallalal i love mobilink. on torrent it,s amazing speed thank,s your screenshots .in which city you recieving 3G SIGNALS…please

            • Using torrents over 3G, no wonder, the country’s networks will get choked considering it will have people like you abusing it.

              I hope the carriers come up with strict data buckets, including unlimited but expensive ones. Else Pakistanis will ruin the 3G experience by using it to download via torrents. Can always trust Pakistanis to abuse any technology outlet available to them.

              • Who do you think you are? I was testing the 3G speeds when I was downloading the torrent.

                Yes, I will download whatever I please over 3G when it launches. You have to be dumb if you think I am going to pay for 3G and then not utilize the bandwidth.

                When you buy 3G, why don’t you restrict your usage to ‘dial up’ speeds, so the internet gets better?

                No wonder many Pakistanis fail all over the world, some of us like to wear a judging hat, and judge other people over what ‘they’ think is right.

              • Using torrents over 3G, no wonder, the country’s networks will get choked considering it will have people like you abusing it.

                I hope the carriers come up with strict data buckets, including unlimited but expensive ones. Else Pakistanis will ruin the 3G experience by using it to download via torrents. Can always trust Pakistanis to abuse any technology outlet available to them.

              • Who do you think you are? I was testing the 3G speeds when I was downloading the torrent.

                Yes, I will download whatever I please over 3G when it launches. You have to be dumb if you think I am going to pay for 3G and then not utilize the bandwidth.

                When you buy 3G, why don’t you restrict your usage to ‘dial up’ speeds, so the internet gets better?

                No wonder many Pakistanis fail all over the world, some of us like to wear a judging hat, and judge other people over what ‘they’ think is right.

  • HOW TO CHECK WHETHER MOBILE PHONE IS 3G SUPPORTED. I HAVE Q MOBILE A65. CAN YOU PLEASE SHARE HOW TO CHECK 3G SUPPORTED SET.

    • Yeah! Why not! You can deploy both services at the same time. If you want to use 4G just send a msg and subscribe it you will able to use 4G akin if you want to use 3G you can subscribe it via SMS.You can use both services, it’s your choice, what you want to use!

  • my net work shows as under:
    oprtr: mobilink
    singnal strength -67 dbm 21asu
    mobile network type: EDGE
    service state: in service
    i dont know how to check 3G in active or not?

  • Salam. My name is khurram. I just connected data network on mobilink and after click on site . I am amazed that everything going speedy. I have the sign on network state I.e 3g. H. H+ . In settings the same case. I have getting it right now. I have gfive g9. Can anyone tell how to take screen shots on gfive

  • on network search my mobile shows ufone 3g network availability but i am unable to connect through it :(

  • ufone mobilink and telenor are showing 3.5g!!! but not able to use it!!! as cell shows registration failed!!! area e block johar town lahore!!

  • Using Mobilink 3G for last 3 days constantly. Area is a Five Star Hotel Near CM House Karachi. Speed is fluctuating between 4.5 Mbps to 9.6 Mbps

    Phone. Iphone 4S :)

  • Moreover, Mobilink applied for a new brand name. Mobilink 3G and they will come under new brand by 1st Week of May Maximum with almost availability at there 5000 cell sites.

    First product will be Mobilink 3G Postpaid. As far as sources confirm. Mobilink is not in a mood to launch 3G for prepaid services at least in coming couple of months.

    • This happened in the UK when 3G launched, first on Monthly trarrifs then a few months later on PAYG

    • joke maar rahi ho, ubi yaar companies ni jo balance lagaya hai usi postpaid mi wo poora nahe kar sakti bcoz my 1000 friends not interesting if packages postpaid mi ho…hourly bundle hona chaheyi
      weekly bundle hona chaheyi
      awr monthly unlimited hona chaheyi..
      koi shak kise ko..enjoy karo it,s GREAT PK LOVE SO MUCH

  • Wondering enabled 3G on my iPhone 5C using UFone prepaid. No 3G services only shows up as GPRS if 3G enabled. Turn it off and it becomes EDGE again. Wondering if anybody prepaid user is using 3G services on UFone? Do we have to provide any APN for 3G network on an iPhone respectively?

    • abi tak 3g service launch nhi hui ksi be network ki just auction complete hui hai,
      just wait for it and check and check again ;) :P

  • thanx amir bhai once again for the help…have a question …does any of the company has plan to launch 3g services in Faisalabad …tried my best to know from availble resources but of no use please help with your sources( i know you can do this)

  • Using in Karachi gulistan e johar block one opposite ned univeristy to nipa chorangi

  • Getting telenor hspa+ network and using it from 5 days on q-mobile a500 in gulistan e johat

  • .. Tried on both ufone and telenor but no 3g neither in trial period nor now …
    I am from karachi

  • Seems like Mobilink is not offering any trial 3G services everywhere. But most of telenor customers are experiencing it here or there.

  • Using 3G on my 5S from auction day in Peshawar Road, Westridge Rawalpindi..
    Also gone to islamabad and used in G6, F6, F7, I8 … And yeah no charges as i get daily billing info.. And i get high speed in melody only in G6 area and while going on Peshawar Road in Rawalpindi Area…

  • Downloaded a 270 mb episode using Telenor 3g in 20 mins. No charge :)
    Lahore cantt

  • In my area all, all networks have enabled their 3g service but only telenor has allowed its user to logged in to their 3g networls rest of three networks have placed restrictions to register at their network

    • lol Bro agr Ap Telenor se han to Khali Telenor ka Network hi Use kar Skte han :D kisi or Network ki SIM Lagaenge to wO uS Network ki 3G ya 2G Chalaega :D

  • Ma ne S3 pe check kiya ha but kisi bhe mobile operator k sath 2g or 3g likha nhi aya. bas name show hoe han Mobilink,Telenor,Ufone,Zong

  • Getting Mobilink 3g Coverage in pindi. Near GHQ / PC Hotel / Lalkurti.

    Very smooth. Download speed was 475kbps .

  • Hard testing 3g. Made a mobile hotspot. Till now browsing is flawless on my laptop

  • Working in d.h.a phase 2 Karachi even though the customer service @ telenor said its not happening and also checked by dialling *7799# and the message was “aap k ilaqay mein abhi 3G service available nahin hai” so big…big lols on the Telenor PK people they work their and they don’t know what’s going on around them so uninformed. While we propakistani.pk users are smart ;)

  • Bro me Karachi se hun, me Allah Wali Chorangi pe 3G use Kar ra hota hun But Speed Bohat Slow Hoti ha, Edge se Fast ha But Jis trah ki baaten hori thin Fast Fast Fast :D utni fast ni hA, ye Trial ka reason to ni ? ya Telenor ka 5MHz ka ? ya Area ka ? kia Waja ha iski ?

  • Why zong has dump service in Turbat city? They have 3G/4G license now, should work on quality as well. Low rate but poor quality.

  • ufone karachi near Airport. i am getting the option of 3G in the available networks list but when i select it, nothing happens. even restarted the phone :(

  • I am unable to get the 3G Network providers on my QMobile A50.
    In Settings-> More-> Mobile Networks–>Network operators-> Select Manual Only Shows Ufone, Mobilink, Telenor, etc. No mention of 2G or 3G. What settings should I Apply?

    • bhai apka mobile 3g supported nhi hai 12-14 ka to koi be acha htc le len ye q/kyun mobile 3rd class ko dfa karein :p

  • o bhai logo auto select kro bs ksi aur setting ki zrort nhi hai,
    jis jagah 3g signals hon ge wahan 3g aye ga nhi to “H’ ya phir same e, edge he rahe ga

  • What about Hyderabad?
    I’ve checked, there is no service here. Are they going to release it here in first phase?

    • Hyderabad is Pakistan’s 5th largest city by population (35 lac) according to wikipedia but these telecos are ignoring it :(

  • I am using HSDPA on Telenor for last 1 week in Lahore. Its excellent. The download speed is around 1.2 Mbps. Daily motion videos are streaming really great, whereas there is some lag in vemeo videos. I am also downloading a torrent to give a hard test to 3G :p

  • i m not in Pakistan But when i will come i will enjoy 3g/4g both i have already iPhone 5s i thinking when i will come i will take iphone 6 batter na

  • How much downloading Speed U guyz Are Getting on Telenor 3g my speed is not v much impresive From Clifton Karachi

  • I have qmobile a600 and telenor. Please guide me for services in Bahadurabad karachi

    • Bahadurabad me Shaed 3G ara ha, Confirm ni ha But Tariq Road pe To ara ha me use karta hun

  • Using 3g Hotspot on my laptop and its working like charm :) 350kbps download speed

  • Dear bro,
    Kindly help me,
    Im using huawei G700 and when i folllow above procedure network mode option is invisible mean it show but i cant click on this kindly help me how i click network mode option, kindly txt me on thz no
    03334286955

  • [for Admin] PropakistaniZ are doing very usefull and even productive work for the public. nice work.

  • Yesterday i got 3g service here at my home in peshawar road rawalpindi and today has been gone, no 3G today, why?!

  • 3G is available at Mobilink in Peshawar … but the signals are disappearing very often.

  • 3G service Available in Gulshan-e-iqbal block 6 in Ufone but no acess when i tries to connect through my nokia n8

  • Not getting 3G on (network zong) iPhone4, now in Karachi PIDC near Sheraton/PC hotel

  • On iphone its not showing that wether network is 2g or 3g
    How do i know plz help

  • I did exactly as you mentioned above but in Settings>About Phone>Status>Sim Status>Zong> “Mobile network Type” is GPRS not HSPA…. :(( WHICH IS VERY disappointing its showing “Zong 3G” in available networks…..

    • Anybody knows about zong 3g? I believe zong has not provided any 3g service uptill now in Karachi…
      I.I.Chundrigar Road etc.

  • Currently 3G services are available on selected locations of major cities.. not every site is 3g

  • Please share tutorial for Samsung Google Nexus S. It just gives option of Use 2G to save battery or untick that, no option for 3G?

  • I’m using ufone internet in HTC Ozone (3g a/c to gsmarena.com). can someone guide me how to enable 3g in it?

  • Kia Lahore walled city(mochi gate, bhatti gate) ya shad bagh kay area main 3g available hai
    Please someone tells me

  • in Karachi Near Allah Wala Chorangi im Recieving 100 KB Download Speed on Telenor 3G

  • No 3G network found in Zakraiya town Multan. Is there no 3G network enable yet?

  • Multan mia mobilink 3g signal qila ghanta ghar 9 no chungi to chok kumwran, lahore mia ufone zong 3g davis road shimla pahari , ufone 3g mazang ichra gulberg shadman model town, telenor mobilink ufone 3g wahdat road near bekhay chok available he. Khanewal mobilink 3g bilal colony mia sirf night mia available hoti he.

  • bravOOO… man u share well good info, em gona check this on samsung galaxy.. :)

  • Ufone is the only network not providing trials for it’s 3G. Does anyone know when it may start?

  • using Telenor 3G in GulbergIII since few days currently free, but ufone didn’t offer as my cell have both sims but when shift to ufone it’s not 3g speed.

  • If these are the data speeds Ufone is offering that’s pretty disappointing. I’m going to have to switch my network to Zong or Mobilink. A download cap would be better than the speeds offered.

    • I agree. If these offers actully go commercial thats very disappointing in terms of speed.

      • Exactly. It’s also weird how Ufone isn’t being trialled anywhere. I expected much more from them. Ufone has a lot of the Islamabad/Rawalpindi market. They’re going to lose a lot of customers and especially the corporate clients.

  • Getting 1.12mbps on 3G at Boat Basin, Clifton, #Karachi during testing.
    Lets see what speed will be available after commercial launch?

  • Well judging from Ufone’s 3G buckets, it’s definitely not an alternative to ptcl evo….the 3GB data limit is not enough if u want to use it in place of evo

  • Hey my first post here… 1st of all i m daily visitor of ur site… its the best technology news site of pakistan…
    Btw just want to contribute by telling u ppl that Hurrah today i used mobilinks 3g…. in lahore fortress area… full and final… happy to use it… took a screenshot of it…i hope u ppl will like it…

  • I dont understand why rollout has to take such long time while some telcos like telenor have already claimed thats its all 7500 cellsights are 3g ready?
    Aamir bhai will you help me out

  • Can any one till me the method of Samsung S3 i am checking but giving the 3G and 2G options please?????

  • I used this taturial but when i select PK-UFONE ( as i am ufone user) a Toast message comes up to screen
    “Your SIM card doesnot allowed connection to this network”

  • getting 3G in satellite town Rawalpindi!!!! its free till now!!! good experience!!! same speed as PTCL 2MB internet(wifi)

  • i hv activated ufone 3g on my phone bt after using is it my credit(balance) is end.

  • hi, how to use my 3g sim in ptcl evo??? is this valid to connect my laptop trough it????

  • For telenor users you can check 3G availability in your area by dialling *7799# then they will send u the status in sms
    And for iPhone users (iOS 7) if you can’t see the 3G button in settings> cellular
    You will have to install iR0se Patch
    rose with “zero” in it
    Just google for how to install irose patch (there are tutorials for jailbroken and also non-jailbroken iPhones)
    Then once u get the app iR0se in iPhone you can easily open the app and tap on “force 3G” so your 3G will be turned on if available in your area ! Best of luck
    PS: i am ufone user, and ofc. still don’t have 3G available in chichawatni city. :(

  • friends mary pass lg p870 mobail h is mai 3g check karny ka trika bta dain or yh b k is mai chal sakti h 3g ya nai

  • H+ at Shahra-e-faisal Nursery Karachi getting 1.77 Mbps upload and download and its free

  • These are the result from Rawalpindi today in evening. i got very high ping while testing the speed on speedtest but when i try to download via UC browser speed is throttling 250KB/sec approx

  • Today at West Wharf Karachi on Mobilink. Test kept failing for upload. Good download speed and ping. This would be the top most offering they have.

  • main Zong ki sim use kar raha hu… kya Quetta city mein 3G chalta hai ? 0312-2270-793 is number per bata dain please ya sms kar dain, thanks

  • Please admin in logo ko kehe taxila mei bi 3G trial start karrei because it is also near rawalpindi and tehsil plzz and i have one zong sim and one telenor and ufone also.

  • so when i follow all the steps above and use my browser using the 3g network, it says the following:

    “forbidden-operation is understood but refused”

    any idea what this means and how can i rectify it? My network if telenor.

  • Ufone 3g is not free. its eating up all the credit… check your balance after usage and you can be surprised with the amount deduction.

  • 3G is also not working in Orangi Town #5, still using just E service, kindly make sure that 3G should b enable here soon. So I’ll b glade nd thnx t u

  • “3G” appeared for about 10 seconds besides the network signals on my Huawei G610 and then disappeared. Ufone network, Gulistan-e-Jauhar. I checked manually for the availability of 3G networks and registered to Ufone 3G but didn’t get “3G” besides the network signals again.

  • ufone 3g in peshawar, download speed, 200-300kilobytes/sec, greattttt n free

  • mere khayal me en mobile COmpanies ka be KPK k sat nai lgta hn Showbaz logo ki tara, itna be tu Ignore nai krna chahyi, esy KPK ki waja sy tu sb Pakistani kha rehy hn aram sy and mazy sy g rehy hn, and aram sy life guzar rehy hn, bhth zyati hn, en ko chahyi k apni companies bnd kr dy KPK me, yaha phr q koly huy hn jo service nai dy skty hmae, hr koi hmari sat zyati krta hn, media waly be, showbaz log be, and ab mobile companies be hmary khelaf hn, bhth sakht khafa hua jb 3G service KPK ko nai dea hn, zyati hn sakht,

  • mere khayal me en mobile COmpanies ka be KPK k sat nai lgta hn Showbaz
    logo ki tara, itna be tu Ignore nai krna chahyi, esy KPK ki waja sy tu
    sb Pakistani kha rehy hn aram sy and mazy sy g rehy hn, and aram sy life
    guzar rehy hn, bhth zyati hn, en ko chahyi k apni companies bnd kr dy
    KPK me, yaha phr q koly huy hn jo service nai dy skty hmae, hr koi hmari
    sat zyati krta hn, media waly be, showbaz log be, and ab mobile
    companies be hmary khelaf hn, bhth sakht khafa hua jb 3G service KPK ko
    nai dea hn, zyati hn sakht,

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