topic Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area? in Mobile Network discussions

LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

radiomean-uk — Wed, 25 Feb 2026 23:57:41 GMT

Hi, this is very strange.

I've been using cellular modems and routers for a long time and am experimenting with Quectel RM551E-GL modems.

In my Cambridge area, up until about two weeks ago I got about 800 MBit/s download on 5G-NSA.

I was connected on 5 bands - B3 primary, B3 secondary 1, B1 secondary 2, and two n78 bands.

However, B1 disappeared about two weeks ago and I only got 4 band connection, and my download speed literally halved, to 400 MBit/s.

I can't see B1 on EE anywhere in Cambridge, either on a router/cellular modem or on my phone (Fold 6). Can anyone shed any light on this? (If I change to a 3 sim, I get B1 connection so it's not an issue with my devices)

Thanks!

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

bristolian — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 08:05:22 GMT

Sounds like some local re-config has taken place.

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

prophilips1 — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 15:14:07 GMT

The same situation is occurring in Coventry. Band 1 is not working!

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

Christopher_G — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:28:24 GMT

Hi @radiomean-uk and @prophilips1

Welcome to the community.

If you check your postcode on our Service Status Checker, it will let you know if we're aware of any problems in your area.

If you'd like someone to look into the network in your area in a bit more detail, I recommend speaking with our Technical Support team.

Chris

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

prophilips1 — Thu, 26 Feb 2026 18:40:30 GMT

I drive around the city with specialised equipment... the 2100 MHz band
1 is disabled throughout the city... I think they are doing it on
purpose... the internet speed on bands 3, 7 and 20 is very poor.

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

bristolian — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 07:59:08 GMT

B1 would generally provide 15Mhz of bandwidth, losing that should not make a significant performance difference if B3 & B7 are still available, especially if either of those are dual-carrier.

B20 will not be there for performance purposes.

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

radiomean-uk — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:29:39 GMT

Thanks. As I said, band 1 disappeared now about 3 weeks ago, and dropped my download speed from 800 to 400 megs. I get the same results on which ever modem I use (Quectel RM520N-GL or RM551E-GL). It's very annoying.

Thanks for confirming my measurements.

Furthermore, I've driven around in East Anglia a bit in the past two weeks and haven't seen band 1 on EE at all, so I wonder if they've 'globally' switched it off, for some reason?

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

radiomean-uk — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:26:04 GMT

Hello and thanks. I've used the Service Checker a number of times, and no problem is shown. I've filled in the form to report a problem but three times I have got the reply 'no problems found'. I will have to speak to the Tech team as I don't think the people on the end of the standard contact form (assuming it's not AI) understand what I am saying.

Cheers!

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

bristolian — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 08:32:16 GMT

@radiomean-uk wrote:
Furthermore, I've driven around in East Anglia a bit in the past two weeks and haven't seen band 1 on EE at all, so I wonder if they've 'globally' switched it off, for some reason?

it may be a regional or localised choice, B1 is still present in my corners of Bristol & Gloucestershire.

Losing that 15Mhz carrier should not cause that degree of performance drop alone. Reconfiguration of carriers is a BAU activity, you may struggle to get any traction out of CS there - but good luck with your efforts.

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

prophilips1 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 09:29:22 GMT

I think it is ‘globally’ switched off other networks vodafone o2 tree are working correctly on band 1...only ee since month limited service on band 1.... the rest of working band 3 and 7 is a total failure !!! it is time to change operator to tree ...especially that bts ...is near my house 600Mbps download 180 Mbps upload

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

radiomean-uk — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:14:12 GMT

Hello Christopher, as I said down this thread, I've already checked service status - 'no faults' - and reported a network issue a couple of times, but I have had the message back 'no faults found'.

I will have to follow up in more detail with the tech support team...

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

radiomean-uk — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:15:13 GMT

Well, I can say that with band 1 I got up to 800 meg down, and without it I got 400-500 meg down - and there was no other change...

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

prophilips1 — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 19:23:15 GMT

You're lucky you can even check the network status 😀 I've been trying for several days and I keep getting the same response….we can’t check our network right now 😡

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

bristolian — Fri, 27 Feb 2026 21:20:31 GMT

@prophilips1 wrote:
I think it is ‘globally’ switched off

You'd be wrong.

@prophilips1 wrote:
the rest of working band 3 and 7 is a total failure !!!

Again, not my observations.

You likely have a local fault.

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

Chris_S — Sat, 28 Feb 2026 08:15:23 GMT

Hi @prophilips1

I'd recommend following the advice that @Christopher_G has given and contacting our Technical support team so that they can take some details and run some checks for you.

Chris S

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

radiomean-uk — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 07:55:46 GMT

Yes thanks, I'll follow this up soon. It has now been in this situation for around a month - I wanted to leave a decent time incase it was resolved without me taking any action.

Cheers!

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

cje85 — Sat, 07 Mar 2026 09:48:13 GMT

@bristolian wrote:
@radiomean-uk wrote:
Furthermore, I've driven around in East Anglia a bit in the past two weeks and haven't seen band 1 on EE at all, so I wonder if they've 'globally' switched it off, for some reason?
it may be a regional or localised choice, B1 is still present in my corners of Bristol & Gloucestershire.
Losing that 15Mhz carrier should not cause that degree of performance drop alone. Reconfiguration of carriers is a BAU activity, you may struggle to get any traction out of CS there - but good luck with your efforts.

Yes, a standard 15MHz Band 1 LTE deployment will provide 112.5Mbps theoretical maximum (real world speed will be less) so the loss of that band alone wouldn't cause a 400Mbps speed drop.

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

byronhinson1977 — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 16:32:26 GMT

Is this likely to be a reason for an issue I’ve had in Cambridge over the past few weeks where my iPhone 17 pro shows signal but doesn’t get any data. I have to put it into airplane mode and back on for it to work again. Never used to happen at all

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

bristolian — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:26:57 GMT

@byronhinson1977 wrote:
Is this likely to be a reason for an issue I’ve had in Cambridge over the past few weeks where my iPhone 17 pro shows signal but doesn’t get any data. I have to put it into airplane mode and back on for it to work again. Never used to happen at all

This should not be a reason for your symptoms. Lack of L2100 where it's been present before isn't even necessarily a fault, it may just be a reconfig to NR2100 instead.

Does it make any difference if you are on a call when you try using mobile data?

Re: LTE Band 1 lost in Cambridge area?

byronhinson1977 — Wed, 11 Mar 2026 17:39:12 GMT

Can’t make calls when it happens. I’m home now away from the place it happens and fingers crossed as usual it’s fine there.