British mobile phone unable to use local networks

[Maisiemoo]

I have a British mobile phone that connects to EE in the UK. In previous visits to NC it has automatically connected to KKTCELL and did so until 1st April when I had no service. I got in touch with EE who talked me through doing a manual connection, but both Turkcell and Vodaphone TR were showing as forbidden networks! Today I was near Nicosia and the phone automatically connected to a Greek Cypriot Network. I was just wondering if anyone else had an experience like this as EE were unable to provide any answers. Luckily I do have a local phone to use, but it' s so annoying as I've had to let friends and family know I can't be reached on my UK phone.

[CatalkoyChris]

I was over in March and had no problems, I am also with EE

[Fesenjan123]

I've been living here for over two years but still keep my British O2 phone. A few times in the past 6 months it has done the same thing but then just comes back on after a few days. I asked the Turkcell and O2 people what was happening but neither had a clue.

[Hector]

I have an iphone with UK BT mobile. It's working fine here on KKTCELL although the cost of using it is horrendous. 'Welcome to Turkey. data is £5 per MB. Calls cost £1.40 per min to make, £1.25 per min to receive. Texts are 40p to make, free to receive.' I really don't want anyone to call me on it whilst I'm here. I ask people to use Viber or Skype me over the internet when I'm connected. And no, I don't ever use it to download data when I'm away from an internet connection and have data roaming well and truly switched off.
Going to the south is somewhat different cost wise. 'Welcome to Cyprus. Data is 17.4p per MB. Calls cost 16.6p to make and 4.3p to receive. Texts are 1/2p to make, free to receive.' I'm living too far north to just use a south mobile provider.

[king neptune]

I've had exactly the same problem on two phones both with BT, both were working fine on KKTCELL then "no service" but they're still alright on WiFi

[Fesenjan123]

My O2 phone is pay as you go and I found a couple of times that when I wasn't on the network, if I topped up with £10 then it started connecting to Turkcell network again. Can't explain that one

[khristy]

I am with EE and is not working,it was working no problem until the 1st April, I receive text and if I have had a missed call, I receive a text.
I have contacted EE but not much help.

[Sugarpuffbear]

If you have TuGo a wifi App of O2 on a smartphone, provided you have Wifi on it, the calls you make come out of your UK minutes and you can answer it in Cyprus on Wifi again without incurring any overseas charges.
I believe EE has a similar thing but whether it works anywhere but UK, I don't know?

I too have experienced the same problem with UK phones on Turkcell, then went and bought a Telsim sim card and the same thing happened. I looked up the system that both Turkcell and Telsim use, they share the 3 phone system and I don't think it copes well with 2G phones?

[rigsby]

This might be worth a go.With the phone switched ON remove battery and sim card.Refit then try phone.This advice given to me by vodafone a few years ago but it did work.

[Maisiemoo]

EE told me to try the Sim in another phone so battery had to come out as well, but it made no difference, unfortunately.