A modern smartphone becomes a useless “brick” if the network connection is unstable or too slow. For operator subscribers Tele2 it is important to understand whether the actual channel capacity corresponds to the declared tariffs, especially when using mobile 4G/LTE. Often, users are faced with a situation where pages take forever to load, and video is interrupted by buffering, although the network indicator shows full signal strength.
Checking the connection quality on devices under control Android is the first step to diagnosing any communication problems. There are many free tools and built-in system functions that allow you to get accurate numbers of incoming and outgoing data flows. In this article, we will look at how to conduct testing correctly, what factors influence the result, and how to optimize your phone settings for maximum network performance. Tele2.
Preparing the device for speed testing
Before running any diagnostic utilities, you need to make sure that the smartphone is configured correctly. Often, low performance is the result not of operator problems, but of incorrect configuration of the gadget itself or background processes. Make sure that the mode LTE preferred or 4G/3G/2G (auto)is selected in the mobile network settings. Sometimes the phone gets stuck on an outdated communication standard, even if the nearby tower supports high speeds.
Close all applications that may consume traffic in the background. This applies to instant messengers, cloud storage that synchronizes photos, and application stores that can quietly download updates. For complete purity of the experiment, it is recommended to even temporarily disable Wi-Fi so that it is the operator’s mobile channel that is tested. Tele2.
⚠️ Attention: If you have the “Traffic Saving” mode enabled in the Android settings (
Settings → Network and Internet → Traffic saving), the system can artificially limit the speed of applications. Disable this function before starting the scan.
It is also worth checking your personal account balance. The operator Tele2, like many others, can limit the access speed to minimum values (usually 64 kbit/s or 128 kbit/s) if the main gigabyte package is exhausted and auto-renewal does not work. In this case, even the most accurate test will show disastrous results, although technically there will be a connection.
☑️ Preparing the smartphone for the test
Using specialized online services
The easiest and most affordable way to find out the real speed is to use web services that do not require installation of additional software. Android-based browsers do an excellent job of running such tests. The market leader for many years has been the service Chrome or Yandex Android does an excellent job of running such tests. Service has been the market leader for many years Ookla Speedtest, which has an adaptive mobile version of the site.
When you go to the service website, your IP address and the nearest server of the provider or operator are automatically determined. For a correct test, it is important that the server is located in the same region where you are physically located. If the automatic selection is incorrect, click on the name of the city and manually select a server Tele2 or a neutral traffic exchange node in your city.
During the testing process, the system measures three key parameters: ping (latency), download speed (Download) and upload speed (Upload). For comfortable viewing of high-resolution videos and fast loading of pages, the Download parameter is critical. However, if you often send large files via instant messengers or make video calls, the Upload indicator also comes to the fore.
To obtain the most objective data, conduct testing at different times of the day. In the evening, during peak hours (from 19:00 to 23:00), the load on cell towers is maximum, and the speed may be lower than during the day.
In addition to Ookla, there are other reliable platforms such as Fast.com from Netflix or Speedtest.net from various independent developers. They use different data compression algorithms and server power, so results may vary slightly. It is recommended to take measurements on two different resources to identify the average value.
Mobile applications for in-depth diagnostics
Although browser-based tests are convenient, specialized applications from Google Play provide more detailed statistics and history of measurements. Installing such software allows you to track the dynamics of speed changes in different locations, which is especially important for subscribers who often move around the city or region.
One of the best solutions is the official application Speedtest by Ookla. It not only takes measurements, but also builds a coverage map, showing where communications work best in your area. Applications from operators are also popular, for example, “My Tele2”, which often has a built-in section with information about the quality of services, although third-party utilities usually provide more technically accurate data.
- 📱 Speedtest by Ookla —the gold industry standard, minimalistic interface, detailed test history.
- 🚀 nPerf —conducts a comprehensive test, including the quality of video viewing and the speed of opening web pages, and not just “dry” megabit numbers.
- 📶 Internet Speed Meter Lite —displays the current speed in real time in the Android status bar, allowing you to monitor the network constantly.
When using third-party applications, it is important to give them the necessary permissions. For the utility to work correctly, you need access to the location (to select a server) and rights to use the mobile network. Without this, the test may be blocked by the Android security system or show incorrect data.
Analysis of indicators: speed standards for Tele2
Having received the numbers on the screen, many users are at a loss: is this good or bad? Speed standards depend on the connection technology (3G or 4G) and the specific tariff plan. The operator Tele2 in fourth generation networks is theoretically capable of providing speeds of up to 100 Mbit/s and higher, but in practice the average values vary.
For stable operation of social networks, instant messengers and surfing, 5–10 Mbit/s is enough. To watch video in Full HD (1080p) without delays, a stable stream of 15 to 25 Mbit/s is required. If your measurements show values below 1–2 Mbit/s in an area of reliable 4G reception, this is a cause for concern and contacting technical support.
| Activity type | Min. speed (Mbit/s) | Recommended speed (Mbit/s) | Comfort (Mbit/s) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Messengers, mail | 0.5 | 1.0 | 5.0+ |
| Social networks, news | 2.0 | 5.0 | 10.0+ |
| HD video (720p) | 5.0 | 10.0 | 20.0+ |
| Full HD video (1080p) | 10.0 | 20.0 | 50.0+ |
| Online games | 1.0 (low ping) | 5.0 | 20.0+ |
Pay attention to the parameter Ping (delay). It is not so important for downloading files, but for online games and video calls it is a critical indicator. In 4G networks, the ping to the operator’s servers is usually 20–50 ms. If the value exceeds 100–150 ms, you will experience lags and delays in real time, even if the download speed is high.
High download speed does not guarantee comfort in online games. Low ping (latency) is critical for gaming, which should be less than 50 ms.
Setting up an APN access point for speedup
Sometimes the standard network settings that the phone receives automatically when you install a SIM card do not work optimally. Manually checking and adjusting the access point (APN) can help stabilize the connection and remove artificial protocol restrictions. This is especially true for older smartphone models or after a factory reset.
To get to the settings menu, follow the path Settings → Connections → Mobile networks → Access points (APN). Select the current active access point with the name tele2internet or create a new one by clicking on the “plus” or “add” icon. It is important not to delete existing profiles, but to create a new one and activate it.
Name: Tele2 FastAPN: internet.tele2.ru
Authentication type: PAP or CHAP
APN type: default,supl
APN protocol: IPv4/IPv6
After entering the data, be sure to save the settings (usually through the menu of three dots in the corner of the screen) and reboot the device. This action forces the phone's modem to re-register with the network with updated traffic routing parameters. In some cases, this solves the problem of “slow” Internet with a full signal.
⚠️ Attention: Be extremely careful when entering the access point address. An error in even one letter (for example,
internet.tele2.cominstead of.ru) will lead to complete loss of access to the mobile data until you restore the default settings.
What to do if the speed remains low
If all of the above methods did not help, and the tests consistently show low values, the problem may lie deeper. Perhaps in your particular home or area the tower Tele2 is overloaded with subscribers, or is located too far away, and the signal is reflected from obstacles. In such cases, the phone's software settings are powerless.
Try to move to another place, closer to a window or go outside. The walls of buildings, especially monolithic ones with reinforcement, strongly shield the 4G signal. Also check if you are using a case with metal inserts or magnetic fasteners - they can significantly degrade the reception of the smartphone’s antenna.
As a last resort, you can use the network settings reset function. This will return all mobile, Wi-Fi and Bluetooth settings to factory defaults. The path to the function is usually located in the Settings → General settings → Reset → Reset network settingssection. After this, the phone will again request the latest configurations from the operator.
Secret Android engineering mode
On many Android smartphones, you can enter the engineering menu to view a detailed view of the signal level in dBm. Dial the code *#*#4636#*#* on your phone. In the Phone Information section you will see the signal strength. A value closer to 0 (eg -60 dBm) is better than a value closer to -120 dBm. If the signal is weaker than -110 dBm, high speed is physically impossible.
Do not forget about the human factor. Make sure that your phone does not have hidden miners or viruses running that could “eat up” the entire communication channel. Checking with an anti-virus scanner and viewing the list of installed applications will help eliminate this possibility. Sometimes it is enough to remove one problematic application for the Internet to “fly.”
Frequently asked questions (FAQ)
Why does the Internet speed drop in the evening?
This is a classic network congestion problem. In the evening hours (from 19:00 to 23:00), most subscribers return home and begin to actively use the Internet: watch movies, play games, surf social networks. The capacity of one base station is limited, and it is divided among all connected users. The operator cannot instantly expand the channel, so the speed drops for everyone within the range of the tower.
Does a low battery affect 4G speed?
Yes, it can. Modern smartphones automatically switch to power saving mode when their battery charge is low (usually below 15–20%). In this mode, the system can reduce the power of the radio module or limit background data transfer to save energy, which leads to reduced Internet speed and an unstable connection.
How to check if Tele2 is limiting the speed according to the tariff?
Go to the personal application “My Tele2” or to the operator’s website. The section of your tariff must indicate the condition “Unlimited Internet” or a specific gigabyte amount. If the package is exhausted, the operator often applies the “Fair Use” rule, reducing the speed to 64 or 128 kbit/s until the end of the billing period or until the purchase of an additional package.
Will replacing the SIM card with a new one help?
In some cases, yes. If your SIM card is many years old, it may not support modern encryption standards or may have physical damage to the contacts, which affects the stability of the connection. Replacing the SIM with a new one with 4G/USIM support in a communication store can improve the quality of reception, but it is free only under certain tariff conditions.
Why does the test show high speed, but YouTube is slow?
This may be due to problems on the side of Google servers or a specific video hosting service, and not with your communication channel. It is also possible that the provider or operator applies traffic shaping (restriction) for certain protocols or ports, while test servers are in a priority zone. Try clearing the YouTube application cache.