Have you been a customer of T-Mobile for a while, but have been wondering about the products and services it offers, such as T-Mobile Edge? You may be wondering- what is T-Mobile Edge?
If so, continue reading below as I get into all of the specifics of T-Mobile Edge that I have found through my research so you can see if it’s right for you!
What Is T-Mobile Edge in [currentyear]?
T-Mobile Edge is nothing more than the quicker version of GSM, which means that Edge is an enhanced 2G network offered by T-Mobile when you’re outside of 4G LTE or 5G coverage in [currentyear]. Therefore, you should not see Edge on your T-Mobile phone except in rare instances where your signal has dropped to 2G.
Are you looking for additional details about T-Mobile Edge, such as what Edge means instead of LTE? Well, I have that answer plus much more, so keep on reading!
Why Does My Service Say T-Mobile Edge?
If you see T-Mobile Edge on your phone, then you’re connected to the 2G network where you’re located, and not 4G LTE or 5G network, which is not a common occurrence these days.
Furthermore, you can think of Edge as a second-generation GSM network, so you’re going to notice quicker speeds than with traditional GSM, but it’s slower compared to 4G LTE.
What Does Edge Mean Instead of LTE?
If you see “E” on your T-Mobile phone, then it means you’re no longer connected to the 4G LTE network, but instead are on the enhanced 2G network of GSM, called Edge.
Specifically, the “E” in Edge stands for Enhanced, and you should only see this symbol if you’re in a location where 4G LTE coverage is unavailable.
How Fast Is Edge Network?
T-Mobile Edge will give you speeds between 120 Kbps and 384 Kbps, which is fairly slow compared to what you’re used to getting with either 4G LTE or 5G.
However, it’s still quick enough for you to do basic things on your phone, such as make a call, send a text, or look up information quickly on Google.
How Do I Change From Edge to LTE?
The way you’d change from Edge to LTE will depend on which device you own, but with most Android devices, you can follow the steps below to change from Edge to LTE:
- Go into your “Settings”
- Select “Wireless Networks”
- Select “More”
- Click on “Mobile Networks”
- Select “SIM Card”
- Click on “Network Mode’
- Select “Preferred Network Type”
Furthermore, you will see the list of available networks to you.
Once you see the networks available, you can change to 3G or 4G or change from Edge to 3G or Edge to 4G, depending on what your network capabilities are.
Is T-Mobile Edge Good?
T-Mobile Edge is decent if you’re in a location where you can’t get 3G, 4G, or 5G signal, and it’ll get the job done if you just need to perform basic tasks on your smartphone.
However, Edge is nothing more than enhanced 2G, so you’ll notice your speeds are slower.
Therefore, it’s likely not worth using for graphically-intense websites or apps.
Also, the good thing is that T-Mobile will connect you to a quicker network once it becomes available, so your time on Edge will be temporary in almost every situation.
What If My T-Mobile Phone Is Stuck On Edge?
If you’ve noticed that your T-Mobile phone is stuck on Edge, then there are several steps you can take to try to connect to a better network if it doesn’t automatically happen, including:
- Restart your device
- Toggle Airplane mode on and off
- Try getting closer to a cell phone tower
- Use Cellmapper to see whether a 4G or 5G tower is nearby
- Remove and reinsert your SIM card
- Turn off battery saver mode
- Turn Data off and back on
Therefore, using one of the above methods should help you connect to a quicker network, but if it doesn’t work, then you just may be stuck in an area where 2G is the only available option.
To learn more, you can also read our posts on whether or not T-Mobile unlocks phones, does T-Mobile offer unlimited data, and does T-Mobile offer internet.
Conclusion
T-Mobile Edge is an enhanced version of the 2G GSM network and if you’re connected to Edge you’ll see an “E” on the top of your screen.
However, Edge is meant as a temporary network, so it’s not a network you should connect to unless you’re in a remote location without better coverage. In addition, sometimes your phone could get stuck on Edge, so you can try to restart your device or use Cellmapper to find towers.
