3G, 4G Sim or phone

[rans6andrew]

If you put a 3G sim into a 4G phone, does it work up to 3G?

I might want to change phone before my 3G contract runs out.

[G0ULI]

Yes a 3G SIM will work in a 4G phone. You will only be able to access 2G and 3G services, so the system will be slow and some services on the 4G phone will not work because of insufficient bandwidth and speed.

Most service providers will be happy to upgrade a 3G contract to 4G because they will anticipate higher earnings as you will be using more data and paying more for the service.

If you buy a phone with dual SIM capability, you can have a pay as you go 4G SIM alongside a 3G contract SIM, with two different services and two different numbers on the one phone. Of course the 3G restrictions would still apply when using that SIM.

[Rwy in Sight]

I agree with G0ULI. However if you ask nicely in a shop of your provider they will be happy to provide you with a new SIM for free, which would be 4G, provided you have a reason.

[rans6andrew]

I checked my provider website, they have a single pay monthly SIM card on offer, the coverage maps they have only show 2G and 3G. The SIM is the same cost pcm (and the same texts/calls/data) as I am already paying them but included in my contract is a phone.