What is your network APN name?

Your network APN name is shown in the settings table above. On most your network SIMs in the UK, the APN is pre-configured automatically when you insert your SIM.

Why is my your network mobile data not working after entering the APN?

After entering your network APN settings, restart your phone to apply the changes. If data still does not work, check you have selected the correct APN and that your network plan includes mobile data.

Do I need to enter APN settings manually on your network?

Most your network devices configure APN settings automatically when you insert your SIM. You only need to enter them manually if your internet or MMS stops working after a factory reset or SIM swap.

What is your network MMS APN for picture messages?

Your network MMS APN settings are included in the table above. Make sure the MMSC, MMS Proxy and MMS Port values are entered exactly as shown.

Can I use the same APN settings for 4G and 5G on your network?

Yes, your network APN settings work for both 4G and 5G connections. You do not need a separate APN for 5G — the network upgrades automatically where 5G coverage is available.

Mobile Data Draining Battery? Fix Guide 2026

Mobile data uses more battery than Wi-Fi because your phone's radio works harder to communicate with distant cell towers. But if data is draining your battery unusually fast, there are specific causes you can fix without turning data off entirely.

Why Mobile Data Drains Battery Faster Than Normal

Mobile data battery drain is usually higher than expected for one or more of these reasons:

Weak signal — the further your phone is from a mast, the harder the radio works, consuming more power
Constant 5G/4G switching — repeated handoffs between bands or generations use significant power
Background app refresh — apps constantly syncing data in the background over mobile
Streaming or large downloads — video and audio over mobile data are battery-intensive
Push notifications — each push notification requires the radio to wake up briefly
Location services — apps using GPS + mobile data simultaneously drain battery faster
Hotspot usage — tethering other devices multiplies radio usage
Poor network optimisation — some Android phones are less efficient at managing the mobile radio

Quick Fixes (Mobile Data Draining Battery)

Move to better signal — if you are in a weak signal area, your phone burns significantly more battery. Even one extra bar of signal can halve the radio power consumption.
Switch to 4G only (Android) — 5G uses noticeably more power than 4G. If battery life is the priority over speed: Settings › Mobile Networks › Network Mode → LTE/4G only.
Enable Wi-Fi when available — Wi-Fi uses far less battery than mobile data. Connect to home/office Wi-Fi whenever possible.
Enable Low Data Mode (iPhone) — Settings › Mobile Data › Mobile Data Options › Low Data Mode. This reduces background data activity significantly.
Enable Data Saver (Android) — Settings › Network & internet › Data Saver. Restricts background data usage across all apps.

Android-Specific Battery Fixes

Restrict background data per app — Settings › Apps → select each app → Mobile Data → disable "Background data" for apps that don't need it.
Force 4G-only mode — Settings › Mobile Networks › Network Mode → LTE only. Prevents the power-hungry 5G radio from activating.
Disable adaptive connectivity — some Android phones automatically switch between 4G and 5G. On Pixel: Settings › Network & internet › SIMs › Adaptive connectivity — toggle off to stay on 4G.
Check battery usage by network radio — Settings › Battery › Battery Usage › look for "Mobile network standby" or "Cell standby". If it's very high, it usually indicates weak signal causing the radio to work hard.
Disable auto-sync for unused accounts — Settings › Accounts → tap each account → toggle off "Sync" for services you don't need updating in real time.

iPhone-Specific Battery Fixes

Enable Low Data Mode — Settings › Mobile Data › Mobile Data Options › Low Data Mode. Reduces automatic updates, streaming quality, and background sync over mobile data.
Disable Background App Refresh for mobile data — Settings › General › Background App Refresh → set to "Wi-Fi" only (not Wi-Fi & Cellular). This stops apps from refreshing content over mobile data in the background.
Restrict cellular data per app — Settings › Mobile Data → scroll to see the list of apps. Toggle off mobile data access for any apps you don't need updating on the go.
Reduce Location Services — Settings › Privacy & Security › Location Services. Set apps to "While Using" instead of "Always" to reduce GPS + data drain.
Disable 5G or use Smart Data (if on 5G plan) — Settings › Mobile Data › Mobile Data Options › Voice & Data → select LTE (4G) instead of 5G. Or choose "5G Auto" which uses 5G only when it actually improves performance.

Check Which Apps Are Using Mobile Data & Battery

On Android

Settings › Battery › Battery Usage — identify which apps consumed the most power.
Settings › Network & internet › Data usage — see which apps used the most mobile data. Heavy data users tend to be heavy battery users.
Force stop or restrict mobile data for offending apps.

On iPhone

Settings › Battery → scroll down for per-app battery usage over the last 24 hours and 10 days.
Settings › Mobile Data → scroll down to see per-app mobile data usage for the current billing period.
Restrict mobile data for high-usage apps you don't need on mobile.

Frequently Asked Questions About Mobile Data Draining Battery

Why is mobile data draining my battery so fast?

The most common causes are weak signal (the radio works harder when signal is poor), 5G usage, background apps syncing over mobile data, and streaming. Check Settings › Battery for per-app usage. Move to a better signal area, enable Data Saver (Android) or Low Data Mode (iPhone), and restrict background data for apps that don't need it.

Does 5G drain battery faster than 4G?

Yes — 5G uses more battery than 4G, especially mmWave 5G. On most UK phones, sub-6GHz 5G (the most common type) uses noticeably more power than 4G. If battery life is a priority, switching to 4G-only mode in your network settings can extend battery life by 15–30% in typical use.

Does poor signal drain battery?

Yes, significantly. When signal is weak, your phone's radio increases its transmission power to reach the distant mast. This is one of the largest causes of abnormal battery drain on mobile data. If you're regularly in low-coverage areas, consider Wi-Fi Calling (which routes calls over Wi-Fi rather than the mobile network) to reduce radio usage.

How do I stop apps from using mobile data in the background?

On Android: Settings › Network & internet › Data Saver enables it globally, or go to Settings › Apps › [App] › Mobile Data and disable background data per app. On iPhone: Settings › General › Background App Refresh → set to Wi-Fi only, or Settings › Mobile Data → toggle off individual apps.

Should I turn mobile data off to save battery?

Turning mobile data off does save battery, but it disconnects you from apps, messages and calls that use data. A better approach is to enable Data Saver (Android) or Low Data Mode (iPhone), switch to 4G-only mode, and restrict background data for individual apps. You keep connectivity while significantly reducing battery drain.