International 4G iPad Models Will Work on AT&T, Not on LTE in Home Countries

As highlighted by SlashGear yesterday, the Wi-Fi + 4G iPad announced by Apple on Wednesday and launching in ten countries next Friday will not be compatible with LTE networks under development in most of the launch countries. Apple's LTE discussion during the media event focused on five carriers in the United States (AT&T and Verizon) and Canada (Bell, Rogers, and Telus), noting that international markets would have other options available for cellular connectivity.

ipad lte signal
The issue with international LTE availability stems from the fact that the AT&T version of the new 4G iPad released in the United States supports LTE on the 700 Mhz and 2100 MHz frequency bands. Apple is distributing that same model to its international markets, but LTE implementations in most of those countries are utilizing 800 Mhz, 1800 Mhz, and 2600 MHz bands that are not supported by the device.

The new iPad WiFi + 4G put up for pre-order in Europe yesterday supports the same 700MHz and 2100MHz LTE bands as the AT&T version in the US; however, actual LTE roll-out in Europe is expected to use the 800MHz, 1800MHz and 2600MHz bands.

That means, even if commercial LTE networks become more commonplace in Europe – which has for the most part remained using the faster variants of 3G technology, such as DC-HSDPA, which the new iPad also supports – the Apple tablet is unlikely to be compatible with them.

Apple has confirmed to The Verge that those international 4G iPad models can be used on AT&T's LTE network in the United States by travelers, even though they will not have LTE support at home. According to Apple:

iPads sold internationally will be able to connect to AT&Ts LTE network when in the US with the appropriate SIM and plan.

The iPad 4G LTE model sold for Verizon in the United States is an exclusive to that carrier for at least the time being, with its LTE compatibility limited to only the 700 MHz band in line with the carrier's implementation of the technology.

Related Roundup: iPad
Buyer's Guide: iPad (Don't Buy)
Related Forum: iPad

Popular Stories

maxresdefault

Apple Shows Off a Key Reason to Upgrade to the iPhone 17

Saturday February 7, 2026 9:26 am PST by
Apple today shared an ad that shows how the upgraded Center Stage front camera on the latest iPhones improves the process of taking a group selfie. "Watch how the new front facing camera on iPhone 17 Pro takes group selfies that automatically expand and rotate as more people come into frame," says Apple. While the ad is focused on the iPhone 17 Pro and iPhone 17 Pro Max, the regular iPhone...
apple wallet drivers license feature iPhone 15 pro

Apple Says These 7 U.S. States Plan to Offer iPhone Driver's Licenses

Monday February 9, 2026 6:24 am PST by
In select U.S. states, residents can add their driver's license or state ID to the Apple Wallet app on the iPhone and Apple Watch, and then use it to display proof of identity or age at select airports and businesses, and in select apps. The feature is currently available in 13 U.S. states and Puerto Rico, and it is expected to launch in at least seven more in the future. To set up the...
m5 macbook pro deal

Why You Shouldn't Buy the Next MacBook Pro

Tuesday February 10, 2026 4:27 pm PST by
Apple is planning to launch new MacBook Pro models as soon as early March, but if you can, this is one generation you should skip because there's something much better in the works. We're waiting on 14-inch and 16-inch MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, with few changes other than the processor upgrade. There won't be any tweaks to the design or the display, but later this...
Apple Logo Zoomed

Apple Expected to Launch These 10+ Products Over the Coming Months

Tuesday February 10, 2026 6:33 am PST by
It has been a slow start to 2026 for Apple product launches, with only a new AirTag and a special Apple Watch band released so far. We are still waiting for MacBook Pro models with M5 Pro and M5 Max chips, the iPhone 17e, a lower-cost MacBook with an iPhone chip, long-rumored updates to the Apple TV and HomePod mini, and much more. Apple is expected to release/update the following products...
iOS 26

Apple Releases iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3

Wednesday February 11, 2026 10:07 am PST by
Apple today released iOS 26.3 and iPadOS 26.3, the latest updates to the iOS 26 and iPadOS 26 operating systems that came out in September. The new software comes almost two months after Apple released iOS 26.2 and iPadOS 26.2. The new software can be downloaded on eligible iPhones and iPads over-the-air by going to Settings > General > Software Update. According to Apple's release notes, ...

Top Rated Comments

jonnyb Avatar
182 months ago
So selling the new iPad as 'Wifi + 4G' in Europe is utterly disingenuous
Score: 17 Votes (Like | Disagree)
kingv84 Avatar
182 months ago
Why can't these stupid telecommunication companies talk to each other and have a standard frequency for LTE. This was the perfect time for all these companies in different countries to agree on a standard, instead they created the same mess like on the 2G and 3G, everybody has a different frequency. :mad:
Score: 12 Votes (Like | Disagree)
bushido Avatar
182 months ago
Bah, if only Apple weren't an American company.... I'm sure yesterday they heard for the first time that the rest of the world uses different bands.

bah if only europe wasn't so far behind.
far behind? yeah right, our broadband, cable and phone infrastructur is far superior than what u can get in the us. "dropped calls?" what is that?
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
jonnyb Avatar
182 months ago
No. There IS no 4G in Europe really, and that's their problem, not Apple's.

Wrong. There is 4G in Europe in some places. And the '4G' iPad will not work on those networks. And it won't work on those same networks being rolled out across Europe later in the year.

It should not be called iPad with wifi + 4G here.
Score: 11 Votes (Like | Disagree)
unicone Avatar
182 months ago
4G in Denmark and Sweden since 2010

No. There IS no 4G in Europe really, and that's their problem, not Apple's.

People here talk about NO 4G in Europe

What a load of crap... Since 2010 we have had it in small scale in Denmark and Sweden and today on full coverage...

Get your facts before writing here ok
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)
craznar Avatar
182 months ago
New iPad doesn't support 4G on Telstra Australia (largest mobile network).

However - it does support 42Mbps DC-HSDPA on Telstra though (which the iPad 2 does not).

That's still a big jump from 7.2Mbps.
Score: 10 Votes (Like | Disagree)