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Networks

 
 

Overview

BlackBerry® smartphones run on a range of networks, keeping you connected to the information you need, whenever you need it.

BlackBerry smartphones can support industry-leading wireless data and voice networks in the UK. Take a look at information on the various networks and supported devices by selecting a link below.

Mobile

BlackBerry smartphones run on a wide range of popular wireless networks in the UK.

Learn more about mobile network support

Wi-Fi

Some BlackBerry smartphones include Wi-Fi® support so you can connect to virtually any Wi-Fi network.

Learn about Wi-Fi capabilities

 

Mobile

BlackBerry® smartphones operate on the following mobile networks:

GSM/GPRS/EDGE Networks

GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks let you maintain a virtual connection to the wireless network for data services. GPRS (General Packet Radio Service) and EDGE (Enhanced Data rates for Global Evolution) are packet-switched networks, designed for wide-area data communication while GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) offers high quality mobile voice services. GSM/GPRS/EDGE networks are operated by most UK network operators.

Devices that operate on GSM/GPRS networks:

Devices that operate on EDGE networks:

UMTS/3G Networks

UMTS/3G networks let you maintain a virtual connection to the wireless network for voice and non-voice data services.

Devices that operate on UMTS/3G networks:

 

Wi-Fi

Smartphones that are Wi-Fi® capable allow you to access the Internet when you are in range of the Wi-Fi network. Areas within Wi-Fi coverage are deemed hotspots, and can be private (e.g. a home/enterprise network, or a commercial location such as a coffee shop) or public (e.g. municipal).

UMA/GAN

UMA (Unlicensed Mobile Access), sometimes referred to as GAN (Generic Access Network), provides carrier services (GSM®/GPRS/EDGE) over unlicensed networks such as Wi-Fi. It allows smartphones that are Wi-Fi capable to make GSM phone calls over Wi-Fi networks.

BlackBerry Bold 9000 smartphone

BlackBerry® smartphones that support Wi-Fi:

Learn More

*Check with your service provider for supported services and features. Not all BlackBerry plans support Wi-Fi access to BlackBerry services. Activation with voice and data plan required.

 

Getting Started

If your BlackBerry® smartphone features Wi-Fi® capabilities, you can connect to a Wi-Fi network automatically or manually. Learn how by selecting the appropriate topic below.

 

System Requirements and Support for Wi-Fi Enabled BlackBerry Smartphones

BlackBerry® Data Services* Requirements

  • Routable path of device to the Internet via TCP/IP on port 443
  • Optional UMA/GAN access—routable path from device to the Internet via TCP/IP ports 4500 and 500
    • Requires carrier support for UMA/GAN

BlackBerry Enterprise Data Services Requirements

  • BlackBerry® Enterprise Server software v4.0 or later
  • Allocation of IP addresses using DHCP or static IP addresses with routable paths:
    • Device to the BlackBerry Router via TCP/IP on port 4101
    • Device access to DHCP server and DNS server
    • If using NAT, enable NAT traversal
  • Optional IPSec-based VPN—routable path of device to the VPN concentrator via IPSec/TCP ports 4500 and 500

Supported IEEE® 802.11™ Access Points

  IEEE 802.11a** 802.11b 802.11g
Frequency 5 GHz 2.4 GHz 2.4 GHz
Maximum speed 54 Mbps 11 Mbps 54 Mbps

**BlackBerry® 8820 smartphone only.

Supported WLAN Security Methods

  • WEP (64-bit or 128-bit)
  • Pre-shared Key (PSK)
  • 8021.X/EAP–LEAP
  • 8021.X/EAP–EAP–PEAP
  • 8021.X/EAP–TLS
  • 8021.X/EAP–TTLS
  • 8021.X/EAP–FAST
  • 8021.X/EAP–SIM

Inner Authentication Methods

  • PEAP method supports:
    • EAP–MSCHAPv2
    • EAP–GTC
  • EAP-TTLS method supports:
    • EAP–MSCHAPv2
    • MSCHAPv2
  • EAP-FAST method supports:
    • EAP–MSCHAPv2
    • EAP–GTC

Encryption Key Management

  • WEP
  • Wi-Fi® Alliance’s Wi-Fi Protected Access™ (WPA™) Personal and Enterprise
  • Wi-Fi Alliance’s Wi-Fi Protected Access 2 (WPA2) Personal and Enterprise

IPSec VPN Support

  • Alcatel® 7130 Secure VPN Gateway
  • Avaya® VSU™ Series
  • Check Point® Software Technologies VPN-1
  • Cisco® VPN Concentrator 3000 Series
  • Cisco Secure PIX Firewall VPN
  • Cisco IOS with Easy VPN Server
  • Lucent Firewall Brick Family
  • Netscreen Systems
  • Nortel Networks Contivity VPN Switch Series
  • Secure Computing® Sidewinder® Firewall
  • Symantec® Raptor Firewall and PowerVPN

Software Token Support

  • RSA® Authentication Manager
    • Requires BlackBerry Enterprise Server Version 4.1 SP3 or later

Learn More

*Requires a BlackBerry Data Plan.

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