09-05-2023 16:38
Detail here, summary below: https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2023/05/vodafone-to-start-switching-off-rest-of-uk-3g-network-...
The Phase Out Plans for 3G Mobile
➤ Three UK said they’ll be phasing out our 3G network service gradually over the next 2 years and switching it off by the end of 2024.
➤ EE (BT) will this year begin moving customers off 3G rather than switching the network off, but they aim to switch it off in early 2024.
➤ O2 (Virgin Media) informed us that they’ve yet to announce a public sunsetting timeframe, but are supportive of the Government plans to switch off both 2G and 3G by 2033.
10-05-2023 08:45
@pgn wrote:
➤ O2 (Virgin Media) informed us that they’ve yet to announce a public sunsetting timeframe, but are supportive of the Government plans to switch off both 2G and 3G by 2033.
So nothing in the short term then @pgn !
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10-05-2023 08:47
10-05-2023 08:47
03-06-2023 11:06
03-06-2023 11:06
Mythbusting... Taken from link at end of post:
"The main reason why 3G is going first is that there are so few critically 3G dependent devices and services left in circulation, partly because the technology – bogged down as it was by overpriced spectrum licensing – never quite took off like 4G did."
- a weak 4G signal can still be better than a strong 3G one (i.e. how many signal “bars” you see on your handset doesn’t always reflect capability).
- consider switching mobile operator as they all have different coverage strengths and weaknesses, which will vary between sites.
03-06-2023 11:17
03-06-2023 11:17
EE are doing a trial 3G turn off where my daughter lives in Warrington.
Vodafone are also on the way.
03-06-2023 15:03
03-06-2023 15:03
o2 have a lot of IOT /M2M sim cards that sit on 3G and 2G so its a bit more complicated for o2 to switch off 3G...
03-06-2023 15:14
03-06-2023 15:14
Sounds like O2 didn't plan that out quite as well as the rest, HeyHo - press ahead, we'll figure out plan B when the time comes 😆
03-06-2023 15:50
03-06-2023 15:50
@pgn wrote:Sounds like O2 didn't plan that out quite as well as the rest, HeyHo - press ahead, we'll figure out plan B when the time comes 😆
Some would say they didn't plan 4G well going for quantity rather than quantity.
Even 4g + is a rarity on my phone
03-06-2023 15:52
03-06-2023 15:52
To be honest that is not o2's issue, its the service owners, who have chosen to use cheap technology rather than the expensive LTE-M standard, but even today some of the IOT tech still only needs 2G or to be honest LPWAN's
11-07-2023 12:13
11-07-2023 12:13
O2 had stopped all network investment when they were planning the 3 merger. This has cost them a few years of investment and now they can't afford to switch 3G off, move people to 4G and invest in 5G all at the same time.