MVNO considered as Roaming

[Flo_z3c]

Hi,

I just got a Z3 compact (D5803). It was updated to Lollipop 5.1.1 Build 23.4.A.0.546.

I am using it with the Austrian operator bob (232 11), which is a MVNO. It is actually using the network of A1 (232 01).

The Z3c firmware considers this as Roaming, although it is normal operation. It shows the "R" in the status bar and it only connects to the mobile data service

when data roaming is enabled (it also shows a continuous notification when it is not).

This is quite annoying, because I want to disable real roaming (expensive!) but use mobile data in my home country (of course!). Furthermore, I don't want to see the "R".

The Firmware lacks either:

- a list of MVNOs (there are lots), or

- a feature to allow national data roaming, or

- a feature to set an operator not considered as roaming.

Unfortunately, I found no way to deal with that in the Stock ROM.

So we need the support from Sony!

For Devs: Cyangenmod has a list of MVNOs (https://github.com/CyanogenMod/android_frameworks_base/tree/cm-12.1/core/res/res/values-mcc???-mnc??...

Regards

Flo

[Thommo]

Have you contacted the network about this

[Flo_z3c]

The network operator tells us (in their FAQ) to enable roaming if it does not work otherwise.
Actually its the way a mvno is implemented that causes this problem.

[Flo_z3c]

Interesting fact:
The Central European Firmware variant has an option to enable national roaming separately from international roaming. The German firmware doesn't have this option.

When it is enabled, data connections work, but the status bar still shows an R.

[Flo_z3c]

With root, you can
setprop gsm.sim.operator.alpha to the value of gsm.operator.alpha. Then the system no longer believes it's roaming.
The property is empty by default on my phone.