Intermittent network issue – unreachable until outgoing call (Nothing Phone 2a)

jancotianno

Hi everyone,

I’m experiencing a very strange issue with my Nothing Phone (2a) that started a few weeks ago (possibly after a recent system update).

Problem description

At random times, my phone becomes unreachable:

People calling me hear that my phone is switched off or not reachable
I do NOT receive incoming calls
SMS messages are delayed and arrive later

The strange part is:

As soon as I make an outgoing call, everything “unlocks”
Missed SMS messages arrive immediately
I become reachable again

It looks like the phone loses network registration while in standby and only reconnects when I initiate a call.

—

Important details

Carrier: Spusu (MVNO)
This SIM has worked perfectly for years
Issue started only recently
Happens both with mobile data ON and OFF
Happens also when connected to WiFi

—

Tests already performed

SIM tested on another phone (Xiaomi Mi 9T)
- Incoming calls work correctly
- SMS are received instantly
- No issues at all
  → SIM and carrier seem OK
Tried different SIM slot on my Nothing Phone (2a)
- No improvement
Reset network settings
- No improvement
Checked Do Not Disturb settings
- Calls are allowed
- Issue still occurs
Tested with/without mobile data and WiFi
- Issue persists

—

Observed behavior

It seems like:

The phone goes into some kind of deep idle state
It loses connection to the mobile network
It reconnects only when I actively use it (e.g. making a call)

—

Questions

Has anyone experienced something similar after recent updates?
Could this be related to modem / radio firmware?
Any known issues with MVNO carriers like Spusu?

—

Next step

I’m considering doing a factory reset, but I’d like to understand if this is a known issue first.

Thanks in advance for any help!

Sreekumar007

jancotianno same issues 😞

Alex

Hi, have you found any kind of solution? I have the same problem.

jancotianno

Hi, not for now, I’m in touch with Nothing and waiting for any solution (today a sent them logs while reproducing the issue).

I casually found a workaround for now, I noticed that if you set 3g network the phone is able to receive calls normally (don’t ask me why 😂).

Hope this help for now

Alex

jancotianno Hi, same for me. If I switch from 5G to 4G, the phone works normally.

jancotianno

Ok, cool. For me switching to 4g didn’t solve the issue, I need to be on 3g…

jancotianno

Sreekumar007 Even on 3g network?

Sreekumar007

jancotianno I sim support 4g and 5g

derDennis

I have the same problem here in Germany with the provider Vodafone. Everything else works out fine. Just don’t stop there

derby

I have a similar issue in the UK. my 2a Plus randomly forgets there is a sim card installed or the network will just drop and trying to ring out say server unavailable. It getting worse and very annoying, im on OS 4.0 and probably 2-3 times a ago i have to ether restart the phone or flick airplane mode on and off. I’ve also had it were i would have not data/phone signal and as soon as my phone connects to a known Home Wifi it all start working again.

jancotianno

Already tried with 3g?

jancotianno

Sreekumar007 I mean in the phone, you can select 3g network as preferred network to use, at least on the np2a

MaheshB_Kaimal

I have this same issue. It randomly appears(especially when you need the most🥲) and it can be fixed by turning on and off the airplane mode

jancotianno

MaheshB_Kaimal To me this didn’t solve the problem, I noticed the only thing it’s to switch ti 3g

Memphisto68

Hi - Having the same Problem with my new Nothing Phone (3a) and although the ‘switching to 3G Network’ Workaround helps, that can’t bei the Final solution!

In particular when the Problem seems to be on Nothings End - Having this issue like OP after the New Nothing Phone OS Update! Before everything worked fine and was Like it should be..

Did you get some Kind of Response from Nothing OP?

jancotianno

Memphisto68 Hi, yes I written the same to Nothing, for now it’s just a workaround, nothing else.

For now I didn’t receive any update from them, just hoping they are working on it to fix it.

Memphisto68

OK I see - thanks for your Response

derby

This has become a joke now, some days i get no signal, it thinks there is no sim installed. 10am this morning it went off and not come back since. put the sim in another phone, no issues.

I might have to just scrap this phone and get something different as it seems the OS updates not good.

eden_blyth

I’ve moved over to spusu in the last few days, but found that I often can’t send texts or make calls. Spusu have just told me that my Nothing 2a isn’t compatible with their VoLTE system, so that I’m limited to 2g. They tell me that they have no plans to make the 2a compatible with VoLTE.

jancotianno

Hi.

Thanks.

Anyway I bought spusu sim almost 6 years ago and np2a almost 2 years ago and before facing these issues months ago it worked perfectly, always on 5g network, so dont know what could have changed in the last months…