Detect network connection type on Android

StackOverflow https://stackoverflow.com/questions/2802472

Question

How do you detect the network connection type on Android?

Is it through ConnectivityManager.getActiveNetworkInfo().getType(), and is the answer limited to Wifi and mobile?

Was it helpful?

Solution

If the problem is to find whether the phone's network is connected and fast enough to meet your demands you have to handle all the network types returned by getSubType().

It took me an hour or two to research and write this class to do just exactly that, and I thought I would share it with others that might find it useful.

Here is a Gist of the class, so you can fork it and edited it.

package com.emil.android.util;

import android.content.Context;
import android.net.ConnectivityManager;
import android.net.NetworkInfo;
import android.telephony.TelephonyManager;

/**
 * Check device's network connectivity and speed 
 * @author emil http://stackoverflow.com/users/220710/emil
 *
 */
public class Connectivity {

    /**
     * Get the network info
     * @param context
     * @return
     */
    public static NetworkInfo getNetworkInfo(Context context){
        ConnectivityManager cm = (ConnectivityManager) context.getSystemService(Context.CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE);
        return cm.getActiveNetworkInfo();
    }

    /**
     * Check if there is any connectivity
     * @param context
     * @return
     */
    public static boolean isConnected(Context context){
        NetworkInfo info = Connectivity.getNetworkInfo(context);
        return (info != null && info.isConnected());
    }

    /**
     * Check if there is any connectivity to a Wifi network
     * @param context
     * @param type
     * @return
     */
    public static boolean isConnectedWifi(Context context){
        NetworkInfo info = Connectivity.getNetworkInfo(context);
        return (info != null && info.isConnected() && info.getType() == ConnectivityManager.TYPE_WIFI);
    }

    /**
     * Check if there is any connectivity to a mobile network
     * @param context
     * @param type
     * @return
     */
    public static boolean isConnectedMobile(Context context){
        NetworkInfo info = Connectivity.getNetworkInfo(context);
        return (info != null && info.isConnected() && info.getType() == ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE);
    }

    /**
     * Check if there is fast connectivity
     * @param context
     * @return
     */
    public static boolean isConnectedFast(Context context){
        NetworkInfo info = Connectivity.getNetworkInfo(context);
        return (info != null && info.isConnected() && Connectivity.isConnectionFast(info.getType(),info.getSubtype()));
    }

    /**
     * Check if the connection is fast
     * @param type
     * @param subType
     * @return
     */
    public static boolean isConnectionFast(int type, int subType){
        if(type==ConnectivityManager.TYPE_WIFI){
            return true;
        }else if(type==ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE){
            switch(subType){
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_1xRTT:
                return false; // ~ 50-100 kbps
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_CDMA:
                return false; // ~ 14-64 kbps
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EDGE:
                return false; // ~ 50-100 kbps
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EVDO_0:
                return true; // ~ 400-1000 kbps
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EVDO_A:
                return true; // ~ 600-1400 kbps
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_GPRS:
                return false; // ~ 100 kbps
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSDPA:
                return true; // ~ 2-14 Mbps
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSPA:
                return true; // ~ 700-1700 kbps
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSUPA:
                return true; // ~ 1-23 Mbps
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_UMTS:
                return true; // ~ 400-7000 kbps
            /*
             * Above API level 7, make sure to set android:targetSdkVersion 
             * to appropriate level to use these
             */
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EHRPD: // API level 11 
                return true; // ~ 1-2 Mbps
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EVDO_B: // API level 9
                return true; // ~ 5 Mbps
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSPAP: // API level 13
                return true; // ~ 10-20 Mbps
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_IDEN: // API level 8
                return false; // ~25 kbps 
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_LTE: // API level 11
                return true; // ~ 10+ Mbps
            // Unknown
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_UNKNOWN:
            default:
                return false;
            }
        }else{
            return false;
        }
    }

}

Also make sure to add this permission to you AndroidManifest.xml

<uses-permission android:name="android.permission.ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE"></uses-permission>

Sources for network speeds include wikipedia & http://3gstore.com/page/78_what_is_evdo_mobile_broadband.html

OTHER TIPS

You can use getSubtype() for more details. Check out slide 9 here: http://dl.google.com/io/2009/pres/W_0300_CodingforLife-BatteryLifeThatIs.pdf

ConnectivityManager mConnectivity = null;
TelephonyManager mTelephony = null;
// Skip if no connection, or background data disabled
NetworkInfo info = mConnectivity.getActiveNetworkInfo();
if (info == null || !mConnectivity.getBackgroundDataSetting()) {
    return false;
}

// Only update if WiFi or 3G is connected and not roaming
int netType = info.getType();
int netSubtype = info.getSubtype();
if (netType == ConnectivityManager.TYPE_WIFI) {
    return info.isConnected();
} else if (netType == ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE
    && netSubtype == TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_UMTS
    && !mTelephony.isNetworkRoaming()) {
        return info.isConnected();
} else {
    return false;
}

Also, please check out Emil's answer for a more detailed dive into this.

To get a more precise (and user friendly) information about connection type. You can use this code (derived from a @hide method in TelephonyManager.java).

This method returns a String describing the current connection type.
i.e. one of : "WIFI" , "2G" , "3G" , "4G" , "-" (not connected) or "?" (unknown)

Remark: This code requires API 25+, but you can easily support older versions by using int instead of const. (See comments in code).

public static String getNetworkClass(Context context) {
    ConnectivityManager cm = (ConnectivityManager) context.getSystemService(Context.CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE);      
    NetworkInfo info = cm.getActiveNetworkInfo();
    if (info == null || !info.isConnected())
        return "-"; // not connected
    if (info.getType() == ConnectivityManager.TYPE_WIFI)
        return "WIFI";
    if (info.getType() == ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE) {
        int networkType = info.getSubtype();
        switch (networkType) {
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_GPRS:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EDGE:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_CDMA:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_1xRTT:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_IDEN:     // api< 8: replace by 11
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_GSM:      // api<25: replace by 16
                return "2G";
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_UMTS:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EVDO_0:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EVDO_A:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSDPA:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSUPA:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSPA:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EVDO_B:   // api< 9: replace by 12
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EHRPD:    // api<11: replace by 14
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSPAP:    // api<13: replace by 15
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_TD_SCDMA: // api<25: replace by 17
                return "3G";
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_LTE:      // api<11: replace by 13
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_IWLAN:    // api<25: replace by 18
            case 19: // LTE_CA
                return "4G";
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_NR:       // api<29: replace by 20
                return "5G";
            default:
                return "?";
         }
    }
    return "?";
}

@Emil's answer above is brilliant.

Small addition: We should ideally use TelephonyManager to detect network types. So the above should instead read:

/**
 * Check if there is fast connectivity
 * @param context
 * @return
 */
public static boolean isConnectedFast(Context context){
    ConnectivityManager cm = (ConnectivityManager) context.getSystemService(Context.CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE);
    NetworkInfo info = cm.getActiveNetworkInfo();
    TelephonyManager tm = (TelephonyManager) context.getSystemService(Context.TELEPHONY_SERVICE);
    return (info != null && info.isConnected() && Connectivity.isConnectionFast(info.getType(), tm.getNetworkType()));
}

The answer from Emil Davtyan is good, but network types have been added that are not accounted for in his answer. So, isConnectionFast(int type, int subType) may return false when it should be true.

Here is a modified class which uses reflection to account for added network types in later APIs:

import android.content.Context;
import android.net.ConnectivityManager;
import android.net.NetworkInfo;
import android.telephony.TelephonyManager;

import java.lang.reflect.InvocationTargetException;
import java.lang.reflect.Method;

/**
 * <p>Utility methods to check the current network connection status.</p>
 *
 * <p>This requires the caller to hold the permission
 * {@link android.Manifest.permission#ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE}.</p>
 */
public class NetworkUtils {

  /** The absence of a connection type. */
  public static final int TYPE_NONE = -1;

  /** Unknown network class. */
  public static final int NETWORK_CLASS_UNKNOWN = 0;
  /** Class of broadly defined "2G" networks. */
  public static final int NETWORK_CLASS_2_G = 1;
  /** Class of broadly defined "3G" networks. */
  public static final int NETWORK_CLASS_3_G = 2;
  /** Class of broadly defined "4G" networks. */
  public static final int NETWORK_CLASS_4_G = 3;

  /**
   * Returns details about the currently active default data network. When connected, this network
   * is the default route for outgoing connections. You should always check {@link
   * NetworkInfo#isConnected()} before initiating network traffic. This may return {@code null}
   * when there is no default network.
   *
   * @return a {@link NetworkInfo} object for the current default network or {@code null} if no
   * network default network is currently active
   *
   * This method requires the call to hold the permission
   * {@link android.Manifest.permission#ACCESS_NETWORK_STATE}.
   * @see ConnectivityManager#getActiveNetworkInfo()
   */
  public static NetworkInfo getInfo(Context context) {
    return ((ConnectivityManager) context.getSystemService(Context.CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE))
        .getActiveNetworkInfo();
  }

  /**
   * Reports the current network type.
   *
   * @return {@link ConnectivityManager#TYPE_MOBILE}, {@link ConnectivityManager#TYPE_WIFI} ,
   * {@link ConnectivityManager#TYPE_WIMAX}, {@link ConnectivityManager#TYPE_ETHERNET}, {@link
   * ConnectivityManager#TYPE_BLUETOOTH}, or other types defined by {@link ConnectivityManager}.
   * If there is no network connection then -1 is returned.
   * @see NetworkInfo#getType()
   */
  public static int getType(Context context) {
    NetworkInfo info = getInfo(context);
    if (info == null || !info.isConnected()) {
      return TYPE_NONE;
    }
    return info.getType();
  }

  /**
   * Return a network-type-specific integer describing the subtype of the network.
   *
   * @return the network subtype
   * @see NetworkInfo#getSubtype()
   */
  public static int getSubType(Context context) {
    NetworkInfo info = getInfo(context);
    if (info == null || !info.isConnected()) {
      return TYPE_NONE;
    }
    return info.getSubtype();
  }

  /** Returns the NETWORK_TYPE_xxxx for current data connection. */
  public static int getNetworkType(Context context) {
    return ((TelephonyManager) context.getSystemService(Context.TELEPHONY_SERVICE))
        .getNetworkType();
  }

  /** Check if there is any connectivity */
  public static boolean isConnected(Context context) {
    return getType(context) != TYPE_NONE;
  }

  /** Check if there is any connectivity to a Wifi network */
  public static boolean isWifiConnection(Context context) {
    NetworkInfo info = getInfo(context);
    if (info == null || !info.isConnected()) {
      return false;
    }
    switch (info.getType()) {
      case ConnectivityManager.TYPE_WIFI:
        return true;
      default:
        return false;
    }
  }

  /** Check if there is any connectivity to a mobile network */
  public static boolean isMobileConnection(Context context) {
    NetworkInfo info = getInfo(context);
    if (info == null || !info.isConnected()) {
      return false;
    }
    switch (info.getType()) {
      case ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE:
        return true;
      default:
        return false;
    }
  }

  /** Check if the current connection is fast. */
  public static boolean isConnectionFast(Context context) {
    NetworkInfo info = getInfo(context);
    if (info == null || !info.isConnected()) {
      return false;
    }
    switch (info.getType()) {
      case ConnectivityManager.TYPE_WIFI:
      case ConnectivityManager.TYPE_ETHERNET:
        return true;
      case ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE:
        int networkClass = getNetworkClass(getNetworkType(context));
        switch (networkClass) {
          case NETWORK_CLASS_UNKNOWN:
          case NETWORK_CLASS_2_G:
            return false;
          case NETWORK_CLASS_3_G:
          case NETWORK_CLASS_4_G:
            return true;
        }
      default:
        return false;
    }
  }

  private static int getNetworkClassReflect(int networkType)
      throws NoSuchMethodException, InvocationTargetException, IllegalAccessException {
    Method getNetworkClass = TelephonyManager.class.getDeclaredMethod("getNetworkClass", int.class);
    if (!getNetworkClass.isAccessible()) {
      getNetworkClass.setAccessible(true);
    }
    return (int) getNetworkClass.invoke(null, networkType);
  }

  /**
   * Return general class of network type, such as "3G" or "4G". In cases where classification is
   * contentious, this method is conservative.
   */
  public static int getNetworkClass(int networkType) {
    try {
      return getNetworkClassReflect(networkType);
    } catch (Exception ignored) {
    }

    switch (networkType) {
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_GPRS:
      case 16: // TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_GSM:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EDGE:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_CDMA:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_1xRTT:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_IDEN:
        return NETWORK_CLASS_2_G;
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_UMTS:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EVDO_0:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EVDO_A:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSDPA:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSUPA:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSPA:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EVDO_B:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EHRPD:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSPAP:
      case 17: // TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_TD_SCDMA:
        return NETWORK_CLASS_3_G;
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_LTE:
      case 18: // TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_IWLAN:
        return NETWORK_CLASS_4_G;
      default:
        return NETWORK_CLASS_UNKNOWN;
    }
  }

  private NetworkUtils() {
    throw new AssertionError();
  }

}

You can make custom Method to accomplish this task. 

  public String getNetworkClass(Context context) {
        TelephonyManager mTelephonyManager = (TelephonyManager)
                context.getSystemService(Context.TELEPHONY_SERVICE);
        int networkType = mTelephonyManager.getNetworkType();
        switch (networkType) {
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_GPRS:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EDGE:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_CDMA:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_1xRTT:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_IDEN:
                return "2G";
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_UMTS:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EVDO_0:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EVDO_A:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSDPA:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSUPA:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSPA:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EVDO_B:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EHRPD:
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSPAP:
                return "3G";
            case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_LTE:
                return "4G";
            default:
                return "Unknown";
        }
    }

On top of Emil's awsome answer I'd like to add one more method, for checking if you actually have Internet access as you could have data set to off on your phone. 

public static boolean hasInternetAccess(Context c){
    TelephonyManager tm = (TelephonyManager) c.getSystemService(Context.TELEPHONY_SERVICE);
    if(isConnected(c) && tm.getDataState() == TelephonyManager.DATA_CONNECTED)
       return true;
    else
        return false;
}

Note that this is only for checking if theres a cellular data connection and will return false if you have WiFi connected, as the cellular data is off when WiFi is connected.

String active_network = ((ConnectivityManager)
    .getSystemService(Context.CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE))
    .getActiveNetworkInfo().getSubtypeName();

should get you the network name

You can check like this

public void checktype() {
    ConnectivityManager cm = (ConnectivityManager) this.getSystemService(Context.CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE);
    NetworkInfo activeNetwork = cm.getActiveNetworkInfo();
    if (activeNetwork != null) { // connected to the internet
        if (activeNetwork.getType() == ConnectivityManager.TYPE_WIFI) {
            // connected to wifi
            Toast.makeText(this, activeNetwork.getTypeName(), Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
        } else if (activeNetwork.getType() == ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE) {
            // connected to the mobile provider's data plan
            Toast.makeText(this, activeNetwork.getTypeName(), Toast.LENGTH_SHORT).show();
        }
    }
}

Currently, only MOBILE and WIFI is supported. Take a look and human readable type function.

You can try this: 

public String ConnectionQuality() {
    NetworkInfo info = getInfo(context);
    if (info == null || !info.isConnected()) {
      return "UNKNOWN";
    }

    if(info.getType() == ConnectivityManager.TYPE_WIFI) {
        WifiManager wifiManager = (WifiManager) context.getSystemService(Context.WIFI_SERVICE);
        int numberOfLevels = 5;
        WifiInfo wifiInfo = wifiManager.getConnectionInfo();
        int level = WifiManager.calculateSignalLevel(wifiInfo.getRssi(), numberOfLevels);
        if(level == 2 )
                return "POOR";
            else if(level == 3 )
                return "MODERATE";
            else if(level == 4 )
                return "GOOD";
            else if(level == 5 )
                return "EXCELLENT";
            else
            return "UNKNOWN";
        }else if(info.getType() == ConnectivityManager.TYPE_MOBILE) {
            int networkClass = getNetworkClass(getNetworkType(context));
            if(networkClass == 1)
                return "POOR";
            else if(networkClass == 2 )
                return "GOOD";
            else if(networkClass == 3 )
                return "EXCELLENT";
            else
                return "UNKNOWN";
        }else
            return "UNKNOWN";  
}

public NetworkInfo getInfo(Context context) {
    return ((ConnectivityManager) context.getSystemService(Context.CONNECTIVITY_SERVICE)).getActiveNetworkInfo();
}

public int getNetworkClass(int networkType) {
    try {
      return getNetworkClassReflect(networkType);
    }catch (Exception ignored) {
    }

    switch (networkType) {
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_GPRS:
      case 16: // TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_GSM:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EDGE:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_CDMA:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_1xRTT:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_IDEN:
        return 1;
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_UMTS:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EVDO_0:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EVDO_A:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSDPA:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSUPA:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSPA:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EVDO_B:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_EHRPD:
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_HSPAP:
      case 17: // TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_TD_SCDMA:
        return 2;
      case TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_LTE:
      case 18: // TelephonyManager.NETWORK_TYPE_IWLAN:
        return 3;
      default:
        return 0;
    }
}

private int getNetworkClassReflect(int networkType) throws NoSuchMethodException, InvocationTargetException, IllegalAccessException {  
    Method getNetworkClass = TelephonyManager.class.getDeclaredMethod("getNetworkClass", int.class);
    if (!getNetworkClass.isAccessible()) {
      getNetworkClass.setAccessible(true);
    }
    return (Integer) getNetworkClass.invoke(null, networkType); 
}

public static int getNetworkType(Context context) {
    return ((TelephonyManager) context.getSystemService(Context.TELEPHONY_SERVICE)).getNetworkType();
}
Licensed under: CC-BY-SA with attribution
Not affiliated with StackOverflow
scroll top