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3G switch-off dates for UK networks

pgn
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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.

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gmarkj
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@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 !

Please note, this is not customer services and we cannot access your account. Do not publish personal details (email, phone number, bank account).


Link to our guide on how to contact them can be found here

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pgn
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Not something that commits them to a particular course of action within a timeframe, no, @gmarkj 🫣 

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pgn
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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.

 

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2023/06/clarifying-some-myths-around-the-uk-shutdown-of-3g-mob...

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Enlli
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EE are doing a trial 3G turn off where my daughter lives in Warrington. 

Vodafone are also on the way.

 

 

This is not O2 and we are all customers here similar to yourself and cannot answer account type queries.
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madasaf1sh
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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...

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iPhone 16 Pro Max - o2 and Spusu
Xperia 1V - Spusu

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pgn
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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 😆

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Enlli
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@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

This is not O2 and we are all customers here similar to yourself and cannot answer account type queries.
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madasaf1sh
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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  

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iPhone 16 Pro Max - o2 and Spusu
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Phil83
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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.

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