# Network selection

Here we will discuss how to perform:

* Operator selection
* Check current network
* Check available networks

## Operator selection <a href="#atcommands-networkselection-operatorselection" id="atcommands-networkselection-operatorselection"></a>

To force a SIM to a network, we can use the following AT command:

{% hint style="info" %}
AT+COPS=\<mode>,\<format>,\<operator>
{% endhint %}

Here **\<mode>** determines if the network selection is done automatically or forced to a network specified in **\<operator>** using the format specified in **\<format>**.

Possible values for **\<mode>** are as follows:

| **\<mode>** | **Meaning**                                                                                                                    | **Actions**                                                                                     |
| ----------- | ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ | ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 0           | Automatic selection (**\<operator>** field is ignored)                                                                         | SIM will connect to any operator                                                                |
| 1           | Manual selection (**\<operator>** field is mandatory)                                                                          | SIM will only connect to the operator specified                                                 |
| 2           | Deregister from network                                                                                                        | SIM will not connect to any operator                                                            |
| 3           | Sets the **\<format>** for the read command +COPS? (**\<operator>** field is ignored)                                          | No attempt to connect/ disconnect                                                               |
| 4           | Manual selection, if possible (**\<operator>** field is required). Switches to automatic (\<mode>=0) if manual selection fails | SIM will attempt to connect to the operator specified and switch to any operator if that fails. |

Possible values for **\<format>** are as follows:

| **\<format>** | **Meaning**                                                                             |
| ------------- | --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- |
| 0             | **\<loperator>** Long format alphanumeric (E.g. T-Mobile USA)                           |
| 1             | **\<soperator>** Short format alphanumeric (E.g. TMO)                                   |
| 2             | **\<noperator>** Numeric (E.g. 310260) which is the Country and Network code (MCC, MNC) |

The **\<operator>** can be retrieved from the result of a AT+COPS=? to check available networks.

Some examples below of how to perform operator selection in various modes/ formats.

```xml
// Manual network selection with Long format alphanumeric format
AT+COPS=1,0,"TMO"
OK 

// Manual network selection with Short format alphanumeric format
AT+COPS=1,1,"T-Mobile USA"
OK 

// Manual network selection with Numeric format
AT+COPS=1,2,"310260"
OK 

// Deregister from network
AT+COPS=2
OK
```

## Check current network

To check the network registration status of the SIM, we can use the following AT command:

{% hint style="info" %}
AT+COPS?
{% endhint %}

This command returns the current **\<mode>** and currently selected operator. If operator is not selected the **\<operator>** and **\<format>** are omitted. The results of the command could be as follows:

<table data-header-hidden><thead><tr><th width="237.92299684074038"></th><th></th></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>&#x3C;mode></strong></td><td><strong>Meaning</strong></td></tr><tr><td>0</td><td>Automatic selection, registered to network if <strong>&#x3C;operator></strong> and <strong>&#x3C;format></strong> are present</td></tr><tr><td>1</td><td>Manual selection, registered to network if <strong>&#x3C;operator></strong> and <strong>&#x3C;format></strong> are present</td></tr><tr><td>2</td><td>Deregistered from network</td></tr><tr><td>4</td><td>Manual selection, if possible, registered to network if <strong>&#x3C;operator></strong> and <strong>&#x3C;format></strong> are present</td></tr></tbody></table>

Examples below:

```
// Registered to GSM network with automatic operator selection
AT+COPS?
+COPS: 0,0,"AT&T"
OK 

// Registered to GSM network with manual operator selection
AT+COPS?
+COPS: 1,0,"AT&T"
OK 

// Not registered to GSM network
AT+COPS?
+COPS: 2
OK
```

## Check available networks <a href="#atcommands-fplmn-checkavailablenetworks" id="atcommands-fplmn-checkavailablenetworks"></a>

To scan and report visible networks the network registration status of the SIM, we can use the following AT command:

{% hint style="info" %}
AT+COPS=?
{% endhint %}

This command returns a list of quadruplets, each representing an operator present on GSM network followed by a list of supported modes and formats.

The quadruplet consists of:

{% hint style="info" %}
+COPS: \<status>,\<loperator>,\<soperator>,\<noperator>
{% endhint %}

where the status carries the following meaning:

| **Status** | **Meaning** |
| ---------- | ----------- |
| 0          | Unknown     |
| 1          | Available   |
| 2          | Current     |
| 3          | Forbidden   |

Examples below:

```xml
// Currently on AT&T and T-Mobile is available
AT=COPS=?
+COPS: (2,"AT&T","AT&T","310410"),(1,"T-Mobile USA","TMO","310260"),(0,1,4),(0,1,2)
OK 

// Currently on AT&T and T-Mobile is forbidden
AT=COPS=?
+COPS: (2,"AT&T","AT&T","310410"),(3,"T-Mobile USA","TMO","310260"),(0,1,4),(0,1,2)
OK

```