When does the 3G switch off happen in the city of York, month

[rp_yorkshire]

3G switch off dates, which month for where

When does the 3G switch-off happen within the city of York and the vale of York area surrounding the city? I have received SMS texts warning me it is before the end of 2025 for the country in general, but they don't give a month for my area, let alone an actual day.

I have searched online and find O2's main page on the topic so far says nothing more than

"As per our press statement released on 3 August 2023, we’ll begin to switch off 3G in 2025"

and

"Our full 3G switch off won’t start until 2025"

But no indications of months, or anything about specific areas of the country.

I was able to find:

https://news.virginmediao2.co.uk/virgin-media-o2-to-begin-3g-switch-off-in-durham-in-april/

and

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2025/01/o2-uk-to-start-3g-mobile-switch-off-in-city-of-durham-...

which say the city of Durham is the first place for switch-off, due for April, but no indications about when other places get turned off. It does say that even the wider county of Durham won't be immediately affected, so it looks like the switch-off is being done at a pretty localised and granular level (a few square kilometres at a time or something).

Is there a list somewhere about when York will be affected?

Replacement phone compatibility

Also, I don't use a smartphone, [short piece of philosophy begins...] I access the web only from a Linux computer over which I have proper root level control. I'm not comfortable forking out large sums of money for something like a smartphone which one doesn't have real control over, I prefer a phone to be like a simple unchaging tool for occasional use rather than being something as capable and complex as a PC. I'm no technophobe I think computation is fanatastic, but one needs root control of a full Linux OS and an x86 chipset to really do computation, and I like to be away from the internet when I'm away from my computer, I don't want to be distracted at all times by having the internet available in my pocket. [/philosphy]... So my phone usage is entirely voice calling (both make and receive) and SMS texting ( both make and receive). I can see options for non-smart 4G phones available at all manner of online sellers, but am unsure about full compatibility details needed. I know 4G is more of a marketing slogan than a real technical standard, so are there other key words I need to look for (like checking the manuals for which specific frequency bands a phone works on, and too few models have proper manuals) when getting a phone which can do 4G SMS and calls?

I understand VoLTE is rather important when 3G is not present? This appears to be responsible for routing of all voice calls once 3G is gone? I have seen notes discussing a need for carrier (O2) specific firmware for VoLTE, is this actually the case, it would seem odd for VoLTE not to be some sort of widespread standard that virtually all 4G phones should support? If some O2 firmware is needed for this, where can it be downloaded, or does it automatically get loaded by any phone when you put in an O2 Sim card? Or are any warnings about a need for specific firmware more in regard to phones bought abroad, and any phones sold in the UK (I am looking at UK sellers only) already match a common standard for VoLTE?

Getting a smaller SIM card, keeping number

One last point, my present SIM card is very old, circa 2011/2012. It is therefore an old-style SIM in the largest form factor. Most handsets I see for 4G look to fit a nano-size SIM only. I assume I'll need a new SIM card but need to keep my number. I see an online method for changing SIM whilst keeping one's number, but will it work reliably when the SIM I am moving from is so very old? If it does not work (I have had problems with the O2 website with other things before, like strange error messages, from the site's end not my browser or connectivity, when trying to change bundle types) then would I end up losing my number? or would a failed attempt to change the SIM just leave me with the old SIM still working? Does the online SIM changing process send SMS texts to verify that both the new SIM card, as well as sending texts to the old one, is working as well as checking security by texting you on the old one? Is there any way that changing the SIM can fail in such a manner that you lose your number?

Thank you

[rp_yorkshire]

Extra question, I've been searching around about VoLTE, there are some indications it doesn't apply to PAYG sims? And that this includes PAYG sims used in "top up this much per month and get this many free minutes" mode with autotopup set through the website. This seems insane, once 3G is gone then phone calls are impossible without VoLTE? That would mean all PAYg sims become useless except for SMS and data? Surely that can;t be the case?

[Enlli]

Regarding where and when of the 3G switch off we are as much in the dark as you. 

The same goes for 4G Calling for PAYG customers. We shall see what happens in the city of Durham in March and the customers there.

Personally I have been through two switch offs with Vodafone and Three and in each case I was not given an exact date. Three has actually turned 3G back on where I live until a new joint EE / Three mast is brought into use.

[Enlli]

Regarding the Question of VoLTE it's not available on any PAYG package.

Again O2 are tight lipped as to what they are doing 

Whatever happens the chance of O2 making a mess of things is quite high going on past experience.

[madasaf1sh]

@rp_yorkshire 

You are missing the fact that if your phone / support VoLTE then it should drop down to 2G which is going nowhere till around 2033. 

I work at an enterprise level with o2 and we cant get any information out of them, and we have some old kit which relies on 3G for data backup (yes still as 4G in some of our basement locations is none exisitant).  

But VoLTE is going to be defacto standard going forward, and to be honest, if you want it, and want to be on o2 then port to giffgaff who offer 5G, Wifi Calling, and VoLTE as there is more chance in o2 closing PAYG than implementing those services.

Also best thing to do to get a new sim is go to an o2 shop with photo ID and get them to do a sim swap in the shop for you. 

[Enlli]

However, O2 have a stated policy of moving people off 2G. Having PAYG drop down to 2G seems to drive a horse and cart through that!

[madasaf1sh]

I think that is pure 2G handsets and sims (if there any left) but 2G is still needed as fallback, so I have a feeling that unless you have a 4G / 5G sim you wont get access.. 

But this is o2, and no one knows what they have in there heads