We are traveling to Switzerland in a few weeks. Our mobile carrier, T-Mobile, includes data and texting abroad. However, T-Mobile's website says my phone (Galaxy S8) won't work in Switzerland. (Apparently it isn't compatible with their network.) This seems odd to me. I've researched "T-Mobile in Switzerland" and have read mostly positive comments (i.e., no problems with coverage), but I haven't read anything about T-Mobile phones not working there. Has anyone successfully used a Galaxy S8 on T-Mobile's network in Switzerland? Thanks!
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
Well, T-Mobile doesn't have a "network" in Switzerland; they have roaming partners. They use GSM, UMTS, and LTE like the rest of Europe. But your specific phone must have the right frequencies to work outside the US on the mobile carriers in Switzerland - specifically, on the ones who are roaming partners with T-Mobile (sometimes they have more than one roaming partner in a country). . Some phones may not have all of the frequencies to work with the local providers. The US uses different GSM and LTE frequencies than are used in Europe.
It's also possible your phone will work but only with the slowest data networks (e.g. 2G "Edge" networks which are very slow).
The way to find out the answer is to look up your specific phone (I think the are different versions of the Galaxy S8 - and they may all have different frequencies) on a site like FrequencyCheck.com . Again, need to narrow it down to your specific model. If you bought the phone from T-Mobile, then it's the "T-Mobile version."
But it depends on the phone and its local compatibility in Switzerland, not on T-Mobile.
I do recall using my T-Mobile phone in Zurich in 2014 - just to make a few calls. (I wasn't there long.)
Posted by
OP
Philadelphia, PA
2 posts
Thank you for the feedback. I looked up my model phone and it appears that my phone will not work there. Do you happen to know if it would work with wi-fi? We do have wi-fi at the different places we are staying, so I'm hoping text and data would work then.
Posted by
Portland, Oregon
5687 posts
Yes, WiFi will work fine. What a shame to not be able to use your phone for really helpful things like real-time navigation, though.
If you have this phone, it should work in Switzerland - but it would be very slow, only 2G "edge" speeds. You might find it frustrating to use, but you have nothing to lose trying.
https://www.t-mobile.com/cell-phone/samsung-galaxy-s8-active
Posted by
Green Bay
21150 posts
Time to upgrade your phone?
Posted by
MPLS, MN
399 posts
My wife and I used to have T Mobile and her older Galaxy 7 phone worked “okay”. I would think your S8 would work at the slowest speeds, at least. I suggest you download maps of the areas you will be in ahead of your trip so you have GPS coverage during your walks in between wi-fi calling access points.
Posted by
Los Angeles
4853 posts
Buy a cheap unlocked quad band phone on the internets and move your SIM card over.
Or ask T Mobile about a loaner, or upgrade to new phone now.