Why do phone lines get mixed up in Lithuania? Dual SIM, roaming, SMS, and network problems.

Many Erasmus students going to Lithuania are encountering SIM card, SMS code, roaming, and network problems. “My SIM card name has changed, I'm not receiving SMS messages, the network keeps showing up as Latvia and Lithuania.” This confusion isn't just about individual devices; it's common in Lithuania due to the operator structure and regional agreements.

In this blog, I've explained the real causes of line interference, dual SIM usage, roaming settings, and the most common solutions students encounter.

Why are Lithuanian operators interfering with each other?

There are three main mobile operators in Lithuania.

• Telia

• Bite

• Tele2

These operators have joint infrastructure agreements among the Baltic countries. Therefore, a Lithuanian SIM card can sometimes connect to a Latvian or Estonian base station. This situation occurs especially in the following cases.

• When signal strength changes within the campus

• When there is weak signal in thick-walled buildings

• When the line is set to automatic network selection

• When the Roaming Baltic Free agreement is active

That's why students sometimes see "LV" or "EE" operator names on their phones.

Why do problems occur when using dual SIM cards?

Many students' phones support dual SIM cards. This can lead to the following confusion.

• While roaming is active on the Turkish line, the Lithuanian line can be automatically deactivated.

• It may become unclear which line the data is identified on.

• SMS verification messages may try to go to a Turkish phone line instead of a Lithuanian one.

• Banking apps may send verification verification via the wrong SIM card.

Specifically, the failure to receive banking and e-government SMS messages is due to having two SIM cards in 80% of cases.

Solution.

• Manually select the data SIM card.

• Search SIM card manually select

• Completely disable data usage on the Turkish line.

• Operate the Turkish line only in SMS mode.

These four steps will largely resolve the error.

Roaming Issues and Why They Cause Confusion

The most common problems encountered by students wishing to use their Turkish phone line in Lithuania are as follows.

• The network is constantly changing.

• The battery drains quickly.

• Bank SMS messages will not be received.

• Calls don't go through or there's no sound.

• The operator connects to the Latvian or Estonian network.

This is because the roaming algorithm selects the strongest signal, which is not always Lithuania.

Solution.

• Select manual operator

• Try the 2G, 3G, and 4G options one by one.

• VoLTE might be disabled on your Türkiye line; check this setting.

The Most Common Phone Problems Experienced by Erasmus Students

Below, I've listed the most common misunderstandings based on the messages in the chat file.

1. Changing the operator name

Students sometimes see "Bite LV" instead of "Bite LT". This stems from the Baltic Sea-wide common network system.

2. SMS codes not arriving

If your Turkish line is in the second SIM slot or in passive roaming, you may not receive SMS messages.

3. Bank applications not performing verification.

It's confusing which line is the active data line.

4. The internet suddenly goes down.

The phone can jump to a different base station.

5. "No service" error even though the SIM card is detected as inserted.

This is common in phones that use dual SIM cards.

SIM Cards That Work Most Reliably in Lithuania

These are the lines that cause the fewest problems, according to student experience.

• Bite

• Telia

• Tele2

Bite is especially popular among students because it is affordable. For example...

• Nearly unlimited packages between 8 and 12 euros.

• Free social media quotas

• Wide coverage

The two operators that cause the fewest problems for Turkish lines.

• Vodafone

• Turk Telekom

Turkcell, on the other hand, may experience more network hopping in the Baltic region.

Gold Standard Settings to Adjust in Phone Settings

These settings significantly reduce confusion.

1. Turn off automatic network selection.

Manually select either Bite or Telia.

2. Secure the data SIM card.

Don't let your phone use its data allowance in a variable way.

3. Disable data usage on the Türkiye line.

Only SMS should remain active.

4. Check VoLTE and VoWiFi settings.

It comes disabled by some operators.

5. For those using iMessage and FaceTime

Reactivate the number manually.

Line disruptions are normal and most are easily resolved.

In Lithuania, occasional phone line interference isn't solely due to device malfunction. Regional network sharing, dual SIM card conflicts, and roaming algorithms can all contribute. Ninety percent of these problems can be solved by choosing the right operator and making a few settings changes.

It's quite normal to experience these problems at the beginning of your Erasmus program in Lithuania. The connection will stabilize within a few days.