Failed to connect operator SARA R410 sparkfun module

Hi,
I activated SIM as per the steps mentioned in wedsite and SIM is activated. Then I tried ‘register operator’ Arduino code for Sara R410m NBIoT module. After I run the code I receive 2 operators are available
1.Vadafone.de
2. telekom.de
Then when we select any one operator (I tried both operator separately).
I get following response

“Error connecting to operator. Reset and try again, or try another network.”

Following is the log file . Any help is appreciated

Command:
Response: AT

OK

Command: E0
Response: ATE0

OK

Command: +UGPIOC=16,2
Response:
OK

Command: +UGPIOC=23,3
Response:
OK

Command: +CMGF=1
Response:
OK

Command: +CTZU=1
Response:
OK

Command: +USOCL=0
Response:
+CME ERROR: Operation not allowed

Command: +USOCL=1
Response:
+CME ERROR: Operation not allowed

Command: +USOCL=2
Response:
+CME ERROR: Operation not allowed

Command: +USOCL=3
Response:
+CME ERROR: Operation not allowed

Command: +USOCL=4
Response:
+CME ERROR: Operation not allowed

Command: +USOCL=5
Response:
+CME ERROR: Operation not allowed

LTE Shield connected!

Command: +CEREG=1
Response:
OK

Command: +COPS?
Response:
+COPS: 1

OK

Setting mobile-network operator
Command: +UMNOPROF?
Response:
+UMNOPROF: 0

OK

Set mobile network operator to Default

Setting APN…
+CGDCONT=1,“IP”,“hologram”
Command: +CGDCONT=1,“IP”,“hologram”
Response:
OK

APN successfully set.

Command: +CGDCONT?
Response:
+CGDCONT: 1,“IP”,“hologram”,“0.0.0.0”,0,0,0,0

OK

APN Name:
hologram
IP Address:
0.0.0.0
Press any key scan for networks…
Scanning for operators…this may take up to 3 minutes

Command: +COPS=?
Response:
+COPS: (1,“262 02”,“262 02”,“26202”,9),(1,“262 01”,“262 01”,“26201”,9),(0,1,2,3,4),(0,1,2)

OK

Command: +CEREG?
Response:
+CEREG: 1,0

OK

Found 2 operators:
1: 262 02 (26202) - AVAILABLE
2: 262 01 (26201) - AVAILABLE

Press 1-2 to select an operator.
Connecting to option 1
Command: +COPS=1,2,“26202”
Response:
Command: +CEREG?
Response:
OK

Error connecting to operator. Reset and try again, or try another network.
Connection info:
Command: +CGDCONT?
Response:
+CGDCONT: 1,“IP”,“Hologram”,“0.0.0.0”,0,0,0,0

OK

APN: hologram
IP: 0.0.0.0
Command: +COPS?
Response:
+COPS: 0

OK

Command: +CSQ
Response:
+CSQ: 12,99

OK

RSSI: 12

Those operators are NB-IOT in Germany (that is the “9” in the response to your +COPS=? command. Hologram does not support any NB-IOT networks at this time and because only Cat-M1 support is from Telefonia in Germany (See GSMA | Mobile IoT Deployment Map | Internet of Things).

You will only be able to use the SARA R410 with Hologram simcard on that network maybe. Note Hologram does have an agreement with Telefonia but does not explicitly list Cat-M1 as supported in Germany so it may or may not work. See Global IoT Coverage | Hologram and enter “Germany” or click on the map to see supported carriers and technologies by country.

Your options are:

  1. Use a 2G (lower bandwidth, higher power, cheap), or LTE Cat-1, 2, 4, etc (significantly more expensive) Modem
  2. Don’t use Hologram simcards and work with Vodafone or Telekom to get a simcard and dataplan that supports NB-IoT

Note although this is a bummer (And I think Hologram needs to do a better job explaining this) it seems this is because NB-IoT is a less mature technology and the carriers that own the towers arent opening up the networks (or havent figured out how) to MVNO like hologram. This means only the companies that own the towers can give you NB-IoT compatible simcards. This is slowly changing region by region but with unknown timelines so dont base any product on this happening

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