How to use your phone on a GPRS/EDGE 2G connection

How to use your phone on a GPRS/EDGE 2G connection

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On:Sunday, 16 February, 2020

There’s a common misapprehension that mobile phones were only able to access the internet following the launch of 3G, back in 2001.

In fact, the technology for sending and receiving data wirelessly had existed since 1991 – the same year Sir Tim Berners-Lee devised the World Wide Web.

The 2G network was extremely basic, with connection speeds measured in kilobits per second. In many ways, it was a perfect partner to dial-up internet connections.

Yet while modems and their high-pitched screeches have long since been banished, our mobile devices still rely on GPRS/EDGE 2G connections.

In areas where the 4G network is overwhelmed by demand (such as inside sports stadiums), smartphones will default to GPRS/EDGE 2G connections to try and send or receive data.

You might notice the words GPRS or EDGE appear in lieu of the normal WiFi or 4G symbols in your device’s upper status bar.

Yet accessing any form of data over such a slow connection will be difficult unless you make deliberate efforts to streamline your online activities…

Living on the EDGE

General Packet Radio Services were used in the 1990s to transmit information at speeds of up to 0.1Mbps.

A subsequent iteration known as Enhanced Data rates for GSM Evolution offered connection speeds of 0.2Mbps, which was several times faster than dial-up internet services.

This dependable yet sluggish mobile network was ideal for distributing text messages and multimedia messaging service content (SMS and MMS respectively).

And to this day, texts are still sent using technology first developed way back in the 1980s.

It’s theoretically possible to distribute internet data over GPRS/EDGE 2G connections, but you’re more likely to see a timeout error message than webpage content.

However, in a scenario where EDGE or GPRS represent the only available connection, these steps should help…

  • Stick to using apps. Because app interfaces are pre-installed on your device, this avoids having to download every element of a webpage – headers, video clips, sidebar ads, etc.
  • Disable automatic image downloading. This is useful on messaging platforms like WhatsApp and can also be done on Twitter, ensuring only text content is downloaded.
  • Pre-install a low-bandwidth browser. Opera Mini has a mode for supporting very slow connections, compressing webpages into a fraction of their normal size.
  • Try to rely on search engines. Few sites respond more quickly than Google, so checking live events, directions etc is often best conducted via its lightning-fast global servers.
  • Leave content to download. Staring at your screen will only cause frustration. Make a page request and come back in a couple of minutes when it’s (hopefully) downloaded.
  • Try moving around. A lack of 4G/5G connectivity may be solved by moving around, or leaving a solid structure like a basement. Always check for WiFi networks, too.
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