Inspired by Librem 5 carrier compatibility thread I’ve compiled 3 tables for compatibility of the offered options. The situation is a little bit dire in the sense that anyone buying the “US” or “A1” versions will not have signal at all if they visit Japan.
This would make Can we buy modems from Purism? very interesting as an option for traveling… Because now I have to think about which of these modems is not only compatible with Japan but with other countries I regularly visit…
Softbank
| Band | PLS8-E | PLS8-US | BM818-E1 | BM818-A1 |
|---------------------+--------+---------+----------+----------|
| 3G B1 (2100) | x | | x | |
| 3G B8 (900 GSM) | x | | x | |
| 3G B11 (1500 Lower) | | | | |
| LTE B1 (2100) | x | | x | |
| LTE B8 (900) | | | x | |
| LTE B9 (1800) | | | | |
| LTE B41 (TD 2500) | | | | |
AU
| Band | PLS8-E | PLS8-US | BM818-E1 | BM818-A1 |
|---------------------+--------+---------+----------+----------|
| LTE B1 (2100) | x | | x | |
| LTE B11 1500 Lower | | | | |
| LTE B18 (800 Lower) | | | | |
| LTE B41 (TD 2500) | | | | x |
Docomo
| Band | PLS8-E | PLS8-US | BM818-E1 | BM818-A1 |
|----------------------+--------+---------+----------+----------|
| 3G B1 (2100) | x | | x | |
| 3G B9 (1800 Japan) | | | | |
| 3G B19 (800 Japan) | | | | |
| LTE B1 (2100) | x | | x | |
| LTE B9 (1800) | x | | x | |
| LTE B19 (800 Upper) | | | | |
| LTE B21 (1500 Upper) | | | | |
| LTE B28 (700 APT) | | | | |