Swisscom / SwisscomFL, prioritize network

scta · Apr 3, 2015

Swisscom / SwisscomFL, prioritize network

Hello community 🙂

Does anyone know how I can contact a good Swisscom mobile technician?
I have the following problem. In Liechtenstein there is very good network coverage including 4G with the SwisscomFL network. It is the case that when the network is automatically selected, the iPhone always chooses the normal Swisscom network, even though the reception is much worse than with SwisscomFL. The problem can be avoided if you switch the network selection to manual, but it is a bit complicated if you have to constantly switch between Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

I used to be an Orange customer, which also had an OrangeCH and Orange FL network. The iPhone automatically changed the network depending on which country you were in. It must therefore be technically possible for the network operator to set this.

I have already described my problem to customer service by phone. But the nice lady explained that it should actually work. She couldn’t really do anything more. But I am convinced that a suitable technician can do something about it.

Optimist · Apr 4, 2015

I think the problem is this:

The cell phone or the network tries to keep you within its own reception area for as long as possible, while SC FL is recognized as an international roaming partner.

At Orange, FL is probably recognized as national roaming (they also had one with Swisscom in their early days in order to improve domestic reception), where you can then switch, for example between the base stations of your own network. The customer continues to pay the same prices.

If I’m correct, Swisscom FL is recognized as a foreign network and since the network from Switzerland is apparently still accessible with sufficient strength, there is no automatic switch, although you can use the network in Lichtenstein under the same conditions.

scta · Apr 4, 2015

That’s exactly how I see it too. However, SwisscomFL is not recognized as a foreign network because the Internet works with data roaming deactivated. But it is true that the iPhone constantly tries to stay in the normal SC network, even though the reception is much worse.

I think it’s a matter of Swisscom’s settings. Orange managed to do this too, then Swisscom will do the same. All I need is a competent technician at SC who can take care of the matter and set it up correctly.

GrandDixence · Apr 7, 2015

The choice of network is apparently largely controlled by the “Preferred Roaming List (PRL)”. The PRL is specified by the mobile phone provider, cannot be viewed and cannot be changed by the customer:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Preferred_Roaming_List

The mobile device’s software can also handle the PRL differently. I could imagine that an iPhone purchased in the Swisscom shop behaves differently when selecting the network than an unbranded iPhone (keyword: branding).

The only thing that helps is “manual network selection” or possibly an app that adjusts the phone settings based on the cell phone antenna used. For example, Llama, which is only available for Android:

https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.kebab.Llama

scta · Apr 8, 2015

Hello GrandDixence 🙂

Thanks for the PRL tip. That will be the solution. Swisscom would therefore have to favor the SwisscomFL network in the PRL so that the iPhone automatically logs into the better network.
Orange can do that, and they can’t even issue correct invoices. Then it will be easy for SC if they want it.

It can’t be the branding thing. Colleagues who purchased their iPhone directly from SC have the same problem.

Manual network selection is not a long-term solution. That’s how I handle it at the moment and it’s just inconvenient to search and dial the network several times a day. If you then forget it, you will no longer have reception.

Unfortunately there are no apps for the iPhone.

I hope SC reads along and addresses the problem.

GrandDixence · Apr 8, 2015

According to the Bakom card:

http://map.geo.admin.ch/?topic=funksender

There are over 14 mobile phone antennas in Liechtenstein. The Liechtenstein mobile phone antennas are operated by three mobile phone providers (Swisscom FL, Orange FL and FL1). Since numerous mobile phone antennas along the motorway on the Swiss side most likely also radiate across the border, I doubt that the mobile phone coverage of “Swisscom CH” on Liechtenstein soil in the Rhine plain is really noticeably worse than the mobile phone coverage of “Swisscom FL”.

For the reasons mentioned, I doubt that Swisscom will invest the large amount of money to improve roaming for the few Liechtenstein cross-border commuters.

scta · Apr 8, 2015

Yes, the Swisscom CH antennas radiate well over the Rhine, but it is still only enough for EDGE or a maximum of 3G. With Swisscom FL, almost the entire country is covered with 4G. So the difference is already noticeable 😉

I cannot judge how expensive and complicated these settings are for Swisscom or whether it is worth it. It would be worth clarifying.

I’m still of the opinion that if Orange can do this, it will be easy for Swisscom. Both have the same requirements, except that Swisscom has a lot more customers here.

scta · Apr 19, 2015

So Swisscom is just great 🙂

At the beginning of the week a technician contacted me by phone. He said that Swisscom was already aware of the problem. They would still wait for a software update from their device supplier. Unfortunately, he couldn’t say how long that would take (1 month, 2 months or 6 months). You are dependent on the equipment supplier in this regard.

So the problem is solved. I didn’t expect a technician to actually contact me.

scta · Jul 23, 2015

Swisscom kept its word. This week I noticed that the SwisscomFL network is now also recognized as a home network. This means you always have the best reception in Liechtenstein with automatic network selection.

Thank you Swisscom!

fgassner · Jan 14, 2016

I have a similar problem, my phone keeps connecting to EDGE in FL even though 3G is available. A quick switch on/off of flight mode and I’m back on 3G, but not a practical solution in the long run…

Has anyone else noticed this? I have an m-budget and am willing to make certain compromises, but that EDGE is chosen as the default network mode instead of 3G?!