AT+COPS

The AT+COPS command allows retrieving information about the current mobile network operators and their status. It facilitates selecting automatic or manual network selection mode.

The AT+COPS command allows users to check mobile carrier status and select carriers automatically or manually. Below is a guide to executing the AT+COPS command under the default Mobile-Data protocol with MMCLI command sets.

Test Command

The AT+COPS test command returns five parameters, each representing an operator present in the network. Some formats may be unavailable, which means the fields will be empty.

AT+COPS=?

+COPS: (supported <stat>, long <oper>, short <oper>, numeric <oper>s[<Act>])s][,(supported <mode>s), (supported <format>s)])

MMCLI Example:

mmcli -m 2 –command=AT+COPS=?

+COPS: (2, “VODAFONE-DE”, “VODAFONE”, “26202”, 7),(1, “Telefónica O2”, “O2”, “26203”, 2),(3, “TELEKOM-DEUTSCHLAND”, “TELEKOM”, “26206”, 7)

Read Command

The AT+COPS read command returns the current mobile carrier and its mode. The format, operator, and access technology parameters are omitted from the response if no operator is connected.

AT+COPS?

+COPS: <mode>[,<format>[,<oper>][,<Act>]]

MMCLI Example:

mmcli -m 2 –command=AT+COPS?

+COPS: (2, “VODAFONE-DE”, “VODAFONE”, “26202”, 7)

Carrier Selection

The AT+COPS write command attempts to select and register with the specified network operator. If the selected operator is unavailable (unless mode 4 of automatic selection is set), no other operator will be selected. The format of the selected operator name will be used for subsequent AT+COPS read commands.

AT+COPS=<mode>[,<format>[,<oper>[,<Act>]]]

''

// If there is any function error, returns:
<err>

MMCLI Example of Select by Carrier’s Numbric ID: <format> 2

mmcli -m 2 –command=AT+COPS=1,2,26202,7

’ ’

We can also input the carrier’s short name: <format> 1

mmcli -m 2 –command=AT+COPS=1,1,Vodafone,7

If select by the carrier’s full name, expecially when it has space or special characters, such as “-”: <format> 0

mmcli -m 2 –command=AT+COPS=1,0,\“Vodafone-DE\”,7

Response Time

When the mobile signal is weak or unstable, the AT+COPS command can take a long time to execute before getting a response. Suggest adding the timeout parameter for test/read/write commands. The typical maximum response time is 180 seconds, determined by the actual mobile network.

Example of Adding 120-Second Timeout for Test Command

mmcli -m 2 –command=AT+COPS? –timeout=120

Parameters

Parameter	String / Integer	Description
<stat>	0	Unknown
	1	Operator available
	2	Current operator
	3	Operator forbidden
<oper>	String Type	Operator in format as per <mode>.
<mode>	0	Automatic mode. field is ignored.
	1	Manual operator selection. The field shall be present and optionally.
	2	Manually deregister from network.
	3	Set only (for AT+COPS? Read Command), and do not attempt registration/deregistration (and fields are ignored). This value is invalid in the response of Read Command.
	4	The manual/automatic selection. The field shall be presented. If manual selection fails, automatic mode ( = 0) will be entered.
<format>	0	Long format alphanumeric, which can be up to 16 characters long.
	1	Short format alphanumeric.
	2	Numeric . Mobile operators MCC MNC number.
<Act>	Integer Type	Selected mobile network type. Values 4, 5, and 6 occur only in the response of Read Command, while MS is in a data service state and is not intended for the AT+COPS Write Command.
	2	3G - UTRAN
	4	3G - UTRAN W/HSDPA
	5	3G - UTRAN W/HSUPA
	6	3G - UTRAN W/HSDPA and HSUPA
	7	4G - E-UTRAN
	10	4G - E-UTRAN connected to a 5GCN
	11	5G - 5GNR connect to 5GCN
	12	5G - NG-RAN
	13	4G & 5G - E-UTRAN_NR dual connectivity