Apple Watch Ultra not allowing setup of data plan

[boosterbosch]

When I go in to the watch app and to mobile data and try to tap set up mobile service, this is greyed out and gives me the following message:

This Apple Watch does not support EE mobile service in this region. Apple Watch can only be used with mobile plans that are certified by your network provider, and for your region. Visit https://www.apple.com/uk/watch/cellular for more information about Apple Watch mobile plans.

anyone seen this before?

[wdcossey]

@cd1369 

Take the watch back to the store, you can't use it in the UK.

After speaking to a technician at the Apple store, they confirmed that the watch cannot be used on a mobile network in the UK.
Apparently the watches are completely different models between the US and UK.

I need to contact the store I purchased my watch from and arrange a return, it's going to take multiple weeks to just get a refund.

[wdcossey]

If you have a disabled button in the Mobile Service section of the Watch app and the following message, you can't use the Watch on the UK (it's not a roaming issue).

This Apple Watch does not support EE mobile service in this region. Apple Watch can only be used with mobile plans that are certified by your network provider, and for your region. Visit https://www.apple.com/uk/watch/cellular for more information about Apple Watch mobile plans.

[cd1369]

This has got to be a carrier issue given what we already know in that the bands except one are covered.  

But, c’est la vie I suppose.  

Thanks…

[DJJ_Ultra]

It is a carrier issue. The watch has all the bands EE regularly uses, apart from one I think which they rarely used.

Sent from my iPhone

[wdcossey]

Yeah I know, the required LTE band isn't available in the UK.

It's really frustrating, you can purchase a mobile in the US and it works without any issues, my gf purchased an iPhone 14 when I got the watch and it only has an eSIM and works w/o any issues (even actived the EE eSIM while abroad).

It's really silly that this issue can't be resolved via an update to the Watch to disable the unlicensed band(s).

It's also bad on Apples part for selling a device that doesn't work, the staff should be better trained.

[cd1369]

So

The suggestion now is that the Apple Watch uses 5G on band 28?  If it’s strictly using band 20 in 4G then we’re screwed, but my understanding is that band 3 is predominantly used.  

Unless this is incorrect:

“2G uses 1800MHz (Band 3), 3G 2100MHz (Band 1), 4G 800MHz (Band 20), 1800MHz (Band 3), 2100MHz (Band 1), 2600MHz (Band 7) while 5G is on 700MHz (Band 28), 1800MHz (Band 3), 2100MHz (Band 1), 2600MHz (Band 7) and 3500MHz, 3600MHz (NR Band 78).”

…then we’re covered. 

After speaking with EE this morning, they’re firmly pointing the finger at Apple. In the Apple store’s defense I went to, they did say it wouldn’t work but could give no reason as to why.  

[wdcossey]

Like I said, it's infuriating, below is the model info for the watches as listed on Apple Support.

The fact that all the watches with cellular have different models per region means they are region specific (but what about the mobiles?!?).

Apple Watch Ultra (GPS + Cellular)
49mm case (Model: A2622 North America; A2684 Europe, Asia Pacific; A2859 China mainland)

Apple Watch Series 8 (GPS + Cellular) Stainless Steel
41mm case (Model: A2772 North America; A2773 Europe, Asia Pacific; A2857 China mainland)
45mm case (Model: A2774 North America; A2775 Europe, Asia Pacific; A2858 China mainland)

Apple Watch SE (2nd generation) (GPS + Cellular)
40mm case (Model: A2726 North America; A2725 Europe, Asia Pacific; A2855 China mainland)
44mm case (Model: A2727 North America; A2724 Europe, Asia Pacific; A2856 China mainland)

EE 2G, 3G, 4G, 5G bands:
800MHz (4G)
1800MHz (2G & 4G)
2100MHz (3G & 4G)
2600MHz (4G)
3400MHz (5G)
From https://www.4g.co.uk/

Frequency converted into bands:
800MHz ( Band 20 )
900MHz ( Band 8 )
1400MHz SDL ( Band 32 )
1800MHz ( Band 3 )
2100MHz ( Band 1 )
2300MHz ( Band 40 )
2600MHz FDD ( Band 7 )
2600MHz TDD ( Band 38 )
3400MHz ( Band 42 )

I would be happy if I could disable the 5G band and stay solely on a permitted 4G band (on the watch) but it's not an option

[DJJ_Ultra]

When I looked into it I am certain that it would work even though it doesn't have the capability to connect to all of the bands used by EE. In fact I'm sure the ones it didn't would not negatively impact performance. The way I see it is that EE could easily activate the watches to work on their network, possibly with some limitations, but I suspect Apple are blocking it.

Frustrating.

David

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[Slotted]

Same problem. Bought whilst in the USA. Rather ironic that it’s sold as an explorer watch, but fails the minute you leave America.