Why won't my Three SIM work in China?

SnowTiger

Why won't my Three SIM work in China?

I've been to China's Beijing aiport twice during the past few months and my Three (PAYG 321) SIM refuses to work there. It works in Hong Kong, Singapore and the Philippines, so roaming is enabled on it and, according to Three's website, it should work in China.

I also have a Philippines SIM on the SMART network. Again, it works in Hong Kong, Singapore and also in the UK, but not in China.

It's not a big deal for me because I only need it to receive a text message with a code for wifi access at the airport. Fortunately at Beijing airport there'a s machine that scans your passport and will provide you with a wifi code.

I have a mammoth fifteen hour wait at China's Guangzhou airport on 10th September. I'm just a little worried that I might be stranded there without Internet access and will miss MSE. :rotfl:

Jon_01

Could congestion on the network over there. Payg uses a different system to contract and most networks can only carry a much smaller number of roaming users.

gjchester

SnowTiger wrote: »

Why won't my Three SIM work in China?

I've been to China's Beijing aiport twice during the past few months and my Three (PAYG 321) SIM refuses to work there.

Airports generally are glass, steel and concrete, its possible that the network Three use for roaming just has a black spot there..

Rusty!

Glass is surprisingly bad for wireless comms

cklass

I think it's unlikely that China's three state-run mobile networks all have poor coverage within its major airports.

SnowTiger, have you contracted Three to verify that roaming is available in China on PAYG? Although this page suggests it is available, it isn't listed on the drop down list on this page. Roaming is available on PAYG in fewer countries than on Pay Monthly, so they may have made a mistake on their website.

Edit: The links to the Three website don't seem to be working, but basically, you contract call Three to verify this as their website has contradictory information.