{"id":39014,"date":"2023-04-07T15:11:22","date_gmt":"2023-04-07T19:11:22","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/?p=39014"},"modified":"2023-04-07T15:11:22","modified_gmt":"2023-04-07T19:11:22","slug":"carrier-forced-wi-fi-offloading","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/mjtsai.com\/blog\/2023\/04\/07\/carrier-forced-wi-fi-offloading\/","title":{"rendered":"Carrier-Forced Wi-Fi Offloading"},"content":{"rendered":"

newZWhoDis<\/a>:<\/p>\n

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Essentially, the latest iOS (16.4 at post time) allows your cellular carrier (via eSIM) to add “managed networks” to your device.<\/p>\n

These networks cannot be removed, they cannot have “automatically join” disabled, and they have equal priority with your real, personal networks.<\/p>\n

So guess what happens when your neighbors get a wifi\/modem combo that blasts a free hotspot SSID? Not only does it pollute the already crowded 2.4ghz band, your iPhone will often prefer this connection over your real \/local wifi (despite said wifi being at 1 bar).<\/p>\n

As of post-time, there is no way to remove these networks short of completely disabling cell service\/removing the eSIM and resetting all network settings.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

seraphsf<\/a>:<\/p>\n

Wifi offloading is not new. AT&T helped invent these standards back in ~2009 when their network was getting crushed by massive increases in traffic as iPhone usage took off.<\/p>

WiFi offload networks are configured as “Managed Networks” which are lower priority than any user-selected networks. You can disable them by turning off “auto-join”. (Also these WiFi offload networks are secure; you can’t spoof them).<\/p>

However it appears that the original poster’s carrier (presumably Xfinity Mobile or Spectrum Mobile) has done something new - they’ve disabled the user’s ability to turn off “auto-join” on iOS. Some overzealous team is trying to lower their cellular costs. That’s because both Comcast and Spectrum rent capacity on Verizon Wireless towers, but their MVNO cellular service is not profitable unless their customers are using the cable company’s own WiFi fairly often.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n\n

trafficante<\/a>:<\/p>\n

\n

I noticed this a couple days back at Home Depot, of all places. Was looking up the locations of stuff I needed to pick up via their website while sitting out in the parking lot and my iPhone kept switching off 5g to hop on some single bar wifi that I couldn’t delete or deselect auto-join.<\/p>\n

Eventually just turned off wifi and the problem was “solved” but man this is going to be annoying if it starts happening at the grocery store or something.<\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n

Previously:<\/p>\n