Korean Job Discussion Forums

oakster15 · Joined: 28 Sep 2012

Hey fellow waygookins,

I'm moving home soon after only staying a year into my 2 year contract for my cell phone. So my options are find someone to take it over (i'm not sure how easy this is to do) OR buy out my contract and bring the phone home with me.

Does anyone know if I unlock my phone and bring it home that it will work with a Canadian cell phone provider? I tried looking up the Korean vs. Canadian bands and if they are similar but I couldn't figure it out.

It's a 3g Galaxy S3 for what it's worth.

Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks!

tob55 · Joined: 29 Apr 2007

Short answer is that is is likely that your phone may be able to be unlocked. There are numerous websites providing information on which models of the Samsung Galaxy can be unlocked.

That would be the best way to begin your search for options. Google a search for smartphone unlocking.

Once the phone is unlocked then you simply need to get a new SIM card from your Canadian provider. Good luck on your return home.

Jake_Kim · Joined: 27 Aug 2005 Location: Seoul

If it's S3, then it's recent enough to have been sold unlocked. (both carrier-lock and country-lock)

Both SKT and Olleh KT buddy up with Rogers for 3G WCDMA roaming in Canada, which means your S3 will be technically compatible with Rogers.

Moreover, if I'm right, Rogers uses 850/1900 for 2G GSM, and both (SKT & KT) versions of S3 support 850/1800(DCS)/1900. So it should be OK on GSM spectrum as well.

The above becomes less relevant if your S3 is of LGU+ version. This particular variant does NOT support 3G 1900 band which is one of the two bands Rogers uses. In fact, no carrier in Canada uses 2100 for 3G frequency, thus any LGU+ S3 will become nothing more than a portable media player in Canada.