LTE Band 8 temporarily used in Puerto Rico

[bigsnake49]

Apple and AT&T in conjunction with Project Loon are using Band 8 in Puerto Rico. Band 8 is from 880-915 and 925-960. It is in effect in the rest of the world but not the US. It must be unencumbered in Puerto Rico. I guess anything to help restore service.

http://www.fiercewireless.com/wireless/loon-working-at-t-to-get-basic-services-to-puerto-rico

 

 

[dkyeager]

I wonder what devices support band 8.  I assume it is covered by the emergency roaming now in effect on the islands.

[anthony.spina97]

5 minutes ago, dkyeager said:

I wonder what devices support band 8.  I assume it is covered by the emergency roaming now in effect on the islands.

I know that every iPhone since the iPhone 5s/5c that are installed with iOS 10 or higher support the band. My concern is that in order to gain access, they have to be able to download a carrier update via either WiFi or Cellular. Not sure how easy it will be for residents to do that.

 

-Anthony

[bigsnake49]

1 hour ago, anthony.spina97 said:

I know that every iPhone since the iPhone 5s/5c that are installed with iOS 10 or higher support the band. My concern is that in order to gain access, they have to be able to download a carrier update via either WiFi or Cellular. Not sure how easy it will be for residents to do that.

 

-Anthony

It was a carrier update for the iPhone. I think they are using it as an auxiliary band running on Project Loon balloons. So yes you had to download it from somewhere. Maybe go to a AT&T store that has either other bands or WiFi or both.