Will a Japanese phone work in the UK?

Have you just bought a new phone from Japan and are wondering whether it would work seamlessly in the UK? Well, we totally understand how complex Japanese mobile services tend to be. For this reason, we have come up with this article to delve deeper into what you should do if you plan to bring a phone over from Japan to the UK.

Majority of the time when we travel we find ourselves purchasing gifts and souvenirs to remind us of our adventurous trip. Maybe this time round you are in Japan and would like to purchase a phone that you can use when you get back home in the UK. During purchase, you may find yourself looking into the cell phone restrictions that exist in Japan and wonder whether a Japanese phone would work in the UK. Truth is, it actually would. The deal cutter is that it should be unlocked otherwise you have no business purchasing one.

What are the UK mobile network frequencies?

The principal 3G frequency in the United Kingdom is 2100MHz. With this in mind, all of the mobile networks that dominate the telecommunications industry in the UK, offer 3G network coverage on the 2100MHz frequency. To add on that, Vodafone and O2 provide 3G network coverage on the 900 MHz frequency and EE offers 3G network coverage on 2600MHz.

When it comes to 4G LTE, the leading frequency is the 800MHz with all the 4 cell phone networks providing 4G LTE network coverage on this frequency. In addition to that, Vodafone provides 4G LTE network coverage on the 2600MHz frequency while EE offers 4G LTE coverage on the 2800MHz and 1800MHz frequency.

The nether 800MHz is an indication that it can travel a lot faster over longer ranges, which means that you can get a 4G LTE signal even when you are completely away from a cell phone tower. This really comes in handy when you are travelling to remote areas where the cell phone towers have been spread out more than in the cities. The 800MHz frequency is also a great option and is high performing in cities where indoor coverage seems important as it is able to maintain a strong connection through walls and other barriers that seem to tamper with signal.

The newest technology added to the United Kingdom is 5G which is better performing than the 3G and 4G networks.

So, will my cell phone from Japan work in the UK?

Yes. The good thing is that the cell phone that you just purchased or came with from Japan is able to work in the UK. Whether an iPhone or an Android, it is bound to work. If you have an iPhone then most likely it will work in the UK because Apple phones have been designed in such a way that they can work over a wide array of cellular frequencies.

If you have any other type of smartphone, let’s say a HTC, One Plus, and Samsung or Huawei among others, then they are highly likely to work in the UK. The main thing is that each one of these phones have to be network unlocked to work with the above network frequencies that work in the UK.

The best way to ensure whether any phone that you have from Japan, whether new or previously used, is eligible for use in the UK, is by heading over to the will my phone work website. Once you have successfully launched the website, the next thing you would need to do is to key in the country as ‘United Kingdom’ and then select the specific UK mobile network that you intend to use. The most recommended mobile network is the three UK because it has a great value and pretty strong 4G LTE and 3G network coverage that is reliable enough for all your network, telecommunications and entertainment needs. If you have an older feature phone, then it may not exactly work in the UK so you would have to upgrade to one of the recently released phones in the market.

Aside from your phone being able to work on the well-established UK network frequencies, the phone should be network unlocked so that it can seamlessly accept a SIM card that is different to the one that is usually installed in your phone.

Final thoughts

The last thing you need when planning an overseas vacation is internet connectivity and telecommunications troubles. You shouldn’t face the same problem when you are planning to purchase a new phone during your trip overseas. It’s all so simple, if you have a smartphone, you need to ensure that it is unlocked so that it can work seamlessly in the UK and if you have an older feature phone you shouldn’t really expect it to work.

FAQs

1. Do international phones work in the UK?

Yes, as long as they are network unlocked.

2. What about my UK phone? Will it work in Japan?

Yes, as long as it is network compatible.