I have the original Moto G, USA version and except for one glitch in Cambodia for 24 hrs, never a problem in various Asian countries, including Taiwan, HK, Thailand, Singapore, Malaysia, and Vietnam. Sometimes fast connection, other times slower but always able to get emails, send/receive texts and use Line, Whatsapp, WeChat.

Thanks!

Here are the specs on the 4G LTE version:
Networks - Moto G with 4G LTE
US GSM Model:
4G LTE Bands 2, 4, 5, 17 (1900, 1700, 850, 700 MHz)
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS (850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz)

One thing I noticed it that the USA GSM and the Global GSM versions listed their UMTS frequencies as "UMTS/HSPA+" rather than just the UMTS heading on the 4G LTE version. I'm not sure what this signifies?


http://www.motorola.com/us/moto-g-pd...oto-g-pdp.html

Original versions not LTE, fastest is HSPA+ on TMO network

Good and Bad
 

I have had the global data since it rolled out and have always been impressed with both the speed and coverage for no extra charge--until this week. I was in Hong Kong, Singapore and Bangkok. All three would only connect to Edge networks and the speed was almost none - i could not use google maps, internet, etc with seriously long lags. I thought maybe i had gone over my data limit or something - but the internet was so slow I couldn't get logged into t-mobile. When I got back to the hotel, I logged in using the hotel wireless and only 256mb of data used in the current cycle. Strange and the first time this has happened to me.

What device/smartphone were you using during this time and did you re-check APN settings? From the GSM Arena Frequency Chart: - HONG KONG
2G capabilities - GSM 900, GSM 1800
3G capabilities - UMTS 850, UMTS 900, UMTS 2100
4G capabilities - LTE 1800, LTE 2300, LTE 2600

Many smartphones used in the Americas do not have UMTS 2100 band enabled and so you ended up in 2G/Edge or GPRS band/speed - which in the old days using Moto Q's or early WinMobile devices, were adequate for email, maps & light browsing (as least in HKG.) Traveling abroad, I carry a spare/backup phone with these frequencies to take advantage of better speed, paid or otherwise. Do you recall what network/carrier you're on ?? (smart/iphone5 or tablet ??) >> PCCW, 3's, or, Peoples/China Mobile, etc.

An inexpensive Moto G for Global GSM usage would be a good choice for access.
Networks - Moto G
US GSM Model:
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+ up to 21 Mbps (850, 1700 (AWS), 1900 MHz)
Global GSM Model:
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS/HSPA+ up to 21 Mbps (850, 900, 1900, 2100 MHz)
Requires a microSIM card (not included)
CDMA Model:
CDMA/EVDO Rev A (850, 1900 MHz)

Networks - Moto G with 4G LTE
US GSM Model:
4G LTE Bands 2, 4, 5, 17 (1900, 1700, 850, 700 MHz)
GSM/GPRS/EDGE (850, 900, 1800, 1900 MHz)
UMTS (850, 900, 1700, 1900, 2100 MHz)

Letitride3c has valid info... if this WAS working before then do the following:

1) Reboot device
2) in Network settings, force to 2G only, then back to 3G and do a network scan manually

If it doesn't work try this:

If it was an Android device, suggest go to dialer enter: *#*#4636#*#*

Click Phone Information, under Set preferred network type set to "WCDMA Only"

Then rescan for networks and manually choose a network

Changing the Network type settings in the normal device settings menu will change this setting.

Even if you get 3G reception, your speeds are throttled to like 100kbps.

Thanks
 

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Thanks! I was using an iPhone 5S. I know in Hong Kong it was China Mobile.

I am always amazed at what I learn from this site. I will look into picking up a 2nd phone. I could have sworn that I had better luck in Singapore with my 5S the last visit. Since I was only in Singapore and Hong Kong 2 days each respectively, it wasn't worth it to buy a SIM. Had I been there longer would have definitely purchased one. Thanks again for the response.

FWIW my postpaid TMO iPad Air seems to have free roaming in China; the network shows up as EDGE. It did not have roaming in Mexico last month.

Arrrrh, good old China Mobile is what I've been using (prepaid local Sim) for 5 years in HKG and CN - and 1st. time there with Motorola Q, had to visit their service counter & took tech support 10 to 15 minutes to mod the settings & get it to authenticate the HTC, only had Edge speed but it was good enough for Google Map, email & basic browsing, slow but usable all over town & in outlying countryside.

But, even if you're to pickup 3G/HSPA+ speed with the proper radio bands/hardware on the i5S, you would still likely get throttled to 2G - as that's the roaming partner agreements between the carriers. There's nothing we can do to "tweak" it and CMHK (sometimes shown as "Peoples" as the APN) isn't known for being fast, depending on the Sim card's preloaded/default settings - and in the old days, those supposingly're pushed & self-install by the carrier once it registered.

Travel frequently abroad, a good dual Sim smartphone like a new Samsung Galaxy Duo (4" screen) & factory unlocked on eBay/Amazon was going for around $120 USD shipped free would make a nice backup even without the latest 4G band, and the Moto G with the global GSM for under $200 wouldn't be a bad investment - pop in a local prepaid Sim & turn that into a WiFi hotspot, when T-Mo's free global data isn't fast enough.

(My current setup is a Nexus 7 with 4G-LTE and a Motorola Atrix 4G w. hi-cap battery (really HSPA+) and both run as a hotspot (thanks to customized XDA roms) when necessary as hotel chain's free WiFi are often useless.)

This might have been discussed much earlier and I apologize for duplicate query. I've had great experience overseas with data/text/voice on my Moto G.

And with older iPad2, got the free 200mb domestic plan when first launched. I sold the 2 and only upgraded to the newer iPad Air model, with cell/wifi -- actually got a discount via my son and picking up the Air in HK later this week.

I called TMO and they confirmed can swap for new proper size sim. I also know the monthly allowance has been bumped to 1gb. When talking with CS, they said the 1gb also works overseas? Can folks confirm whether this is actually the case? Thanks!

The 20 cents a minute calling should cover the VoIP feature on T-Mobile phones, right? I've checked the bills from when I was in Hong Kong and Guangzhou, and was not charged for any of the calls I made, since they were all over the Wifi/VoIP at the hotels I was in. Anyone else see this? Because if that is how it's going to be, I am going to be a happy T-Mobile customer for a long time.

VOIP calls come out of your plan's m:)nthly allocation of minutes. For plans that offer the 20c international roaming that allocation is 'unlimited'. Happy?! :) :) :p

Just got back from a trip to Davao in the southern Philippines. No issues; 3G coverage in most urban areas, spotty 3G or EDGE most other places. Data throttled I think; locals sometimes had worse speed then me. Text was fine, $.20/min calls came in handy. T-mobile has a customer for the long haul with this.