100% EDGE networks Europe

kuba.g · **100% EDGE networks Europe -** 04-05-2011, 21:48

From my experience while travelling in Europe, I have found that while a 3G signal for internet mobile data is a very nice thing, a GPRS signal is hell. An EDGE signal however is a good compromise. It makes 'normal' internet usage possible.
That's the reason why I am keen to prefer a network with 100% EDGE coverage over a network with better 3G coverage with GPRS elsewhere.

Therefore I thought it would be good to list all the operators from the European countries with (almost) 100% EDGE coverage.

Here are the ones I know of:

Belgium: BASE
Germany: T-Mobile
France: Bouygues
Sweden: Telia
Italy: TIM
Switzerland: Swisscom and Sunrise
Lithouania: Omnitel
Estonia: EMT
Hungary: Pannon
Bulgaria: M-tel
Albania: Eagle Mobile*

drama queen · 05-05-2011, 10:15

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuba.g

From my experience while travelling in Europe, I have found that while a 3G signal for internet mobile data is a very nice thing, a GPRS signal is hell. An EDGE signal however is a good compromise. It makes 'normal' internet usage possible.
That's the reason why I am keen to prefer a network with 100% EDGE coverage over a network with better 3G coverage with GPRS elsewhere.

Therefore I thought it would be good to list all the operators from the European countries with (almost) 100% EDGE coverage.

Here are the ones I know of:

Belgium: BASE
Germany: T-Mobile
France: Bouyguesh
Sweden: Telia
Italy: TIM
Switzerland: Swisscom and Sunrise
Lithouania: Omnitel
Estonia: EMT
Hungary: Pannon
Bulgaria: M-tel
Albania: Eagle Mobile*

Excellent post. This capability is completely ignored by most users who blindly choose networks based on hyped up marketing of hypothetical speeds on HSPA+

In Ireland, the 3G networks with EDGE as well as 3G are Meteor/eMobile and O2.

Vodafone only have GPRS outside of 3G areas and 3 dont even have GSM.

inquisitor · 05-05-2011, 10:31

From my experience EDGE-cells are often heavily congested in Western markets, where smartphone penetration is high. While I have constantly had >200 KBit/s in Bulgaria (M-Tel), I rarely see rates more than 100 KBit/s here in Germany.
The total capacity of an EDGE-cell is much smaller than on 3G, so fewer users can congest a cell. Also operators evade to sacrifice voice channels for data on their GSM networks, as voice calls provide more revenue than data, so there's few scope for capacity upgrades.
So when comparing EDGE with 3G/UMTS/HSPA you should also consider the total capacity per cell, which is much higher on 3G.

**Effendi** · 05-05-2011, 18:13

Tušmobil and Si Mobil in Slovenia are 100% EDGE, probably Mobitel too. And they have 3G in most places as well, pity that their prepaid data offers are so expensive...

borjeg · 06-05-2011, 09:24

You can add to the list:

Telia in Denmark
TDC in Denmark
Netcom (Telia) in Norway
Telenor in Norway
TeliaSonera in Finland
DNA in Finland
Vodafone in Iceland
Siminn in Iceland
Tele2 in Lithuania

and maybe LMT in Latvia (only in Riga)

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	(#1 (permalink))
kuba.g (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Fan Posts: 160 Join Date: 24 Oct 2010 Country:	100% EDGE networks Europe - 04-05-2011, 21:48 From my experience while travelling in Europe, I have found that while a 3G signal for internet mobile data is a very nice thing, a GPRS signal is hell. An EDGE signal however is a good compromise. It makes 'normal' internet usage possible. That's the reason why I am keen to prefer a network with 100% EDGE coverage over a network with better 3G coverage with GPRS elsewhere. Therefore I thought it would be good to list all the operators from the European countries with (almost) 100% EDGE coverage. Here are the ones I know of: Belgium: BASE Germany: T-Mobile France: Bouygues Sweden: Telia Italy: TIM Switzerland: Swisscom and Sunrise Lithouania: Omnitel Estonia: EMT Hungary: Pannon Bulgaria: M-tel Albania: Eagle Mobile* Mobile internet sim cards: INT: abroadband, NL: Simyo, Ben, BE: JIM Mobile, MEDIONmobile, LUX: Orange, PL: mBank Mobile, DE: Congstar, ja! MOBIL, MEDIONmobile, IE: Vodafone, CH: OK Mobil, SwissCom, SE: Telia, ES: MásMovil, GR: Cosmote, IT: TIM, RS: mt:s, BY: Privet, UA: Kievstar, MD: Moldcell Feel free to consult me about sim cards in the Benelux and Poland.

	(#3 (permalink))
inquisitor (Offline) Senior Member Prepaid Specialist Posts: 957 Join Date: 15 Nov 2006 Country:	05-05-2011, 10:31 From my experience EDGE-cells are often heavily congested in Western markets, where smartphone penetration is high. While I have constantly had >200 KBit/s in Bulgaria (M-Tel), I rarely see rates more than 100 KBit/s here in Germany. The total capacity of an EDGE-cell is much smaller than on 3G, so fewer users can congest a cell. Also operators evade to sacrifice voice channels for data on their GSM networks, as voice calls provide more revenue than data, so there's few scope for capacity upgrades. So when comparing EDGE with 3G/UMTS/HSPA you should also consider the total capacity per cell, which is much higher on 3G. terminals: Motorola: Milestone, F3; Nokia: N95, 1208; BenQ-Siemens: S68; Huawei: E5, E1823, E1762, K3715, K3765, EM770 in Asus Eee PC 901 GO; Qualcomm Gobi 2000 in Sony VAIO VPC-Z12X9E/X postpaid: DE: O2 Blue 100 Flex; prepaid: DE: Lidl, Fonic, Tchibo, solomo pro, congstar, T-Mobile, Vodafone, otelo; CH: Swisscom Natel Easy BeFree, Sunrise go dayflat, Lebara; OK,-mobile; UK: T-Mobile, 3; NL: T-Mobile; ES: Vodafone, MÁSmovil, simyo; HU: T-Mobile; BG: MTel, Globul, vivatel, Petrol mobile; INT'L: none

	(#4 (permalink))
Effendi (Offline) The great Dictator! Prepaid Prophet Posts: 2,330 Join Date: 13 Jan 2004 Location: Genova & Sarzana Country:	05-05-2011, 18:13 Tušmobil and Si Mobil in Slovenia are 100% EDGE, probably Mobitel too. And they have 3G in most places as well, pity that their prepaid data offers are so expensive... Working Prepaids: IT: Wind, Vodafone IT, UNO Mobile; SM: Prima; UK: 3, Virgin; INT: TravelSIM, Truphone. Deceased Prepaids: CZ: Oskar, Eurotel; SK: Orange; DE: E-Plus, Aldi, Simyo; GE: Geocell; AM: Armentel; PL: Heyah, Plus; LT: Tele2; LV: Amigo; EE: Elisa; UA: Kyivstar; NZ: Vodafone; INT: UM, UM+, ICQSim. GSM/3G Phones: Nokia E71, HTC Wildfire

	(#5 (permalink))
borjeg (Offline) Member Advanced Member Posts: 81 Join Date: 05 May 2004 Location: Nordic/Baltic states Country:	06-05-2011, 09:24 You can add to the list: Telia in Denmark TDC in Denmark Netcom (Telia) in Norway Telenor in Norway TeliaSonera in Finland DNA in Finland Vodafone in Iceland Siminn in Iceland Tele2 in Lithuania and maybe LMT in Latvia (only in Riga)