SWITCHING OFF 3G/2G

[ALF28]

I see VM/02 are switching off 3g mobile network in 2025.

Also the 3G/2G may be affected with some piggyback services such as Tesco mobile etc.

I have been informed to upgrade to 4G by Tesco mobile both 3G & 2G (restricted) are phased out in 2025 and I need a 4G volte ( voice via data) mobile to continue. I. only have one 4G volte so my other mobiles and spares needs upgrading. I use pushbutton phones and do not need data myself as I have never used smartphones.

The dates for 02/Tesco are 1/01/2025 for 3G and I have seen a date April 2025 for 2G.

I also have a lyca mobile, which uses 02 and they say 2G will continue for calls and text, and also a  giffgaff mobile which uses 02 giffgaff advised me 2G will continue till 2033, so each operator may be different?

I use Tesco for my main phones so will have to upgrade one mobile to  4G mobiles before 2025 which is costly.

2G will remain for emergency services, smart meters and rural areas only, so as most of my mobiles use 2G or 3G do I need to upgrade all my phones now to 4G with volte sound

I will also ring Tesco mobile to for more info on what is happening to 2G, they are moving customers away from 2G and I am not sure what restricted service means.

As I have several mobiles and 3 companies all using 02 piggyback, I may need upgrade some, with phones costing between £40 to £80 depending on the make, so may use dual sim to keep the cost down, not sure if the sim can be for different companies in the same phone?

All my sims are 4G, so that is not an issue, some earlier sims would need upgrading to 4G in some cases.

Any advice on this would be appreciated.

[Client62 · Accepted solution]

When we order a new mobile we always order a new SIM, this allows us to have both devices operating right up to the point when we trigger the transfer of the number from the old to the new phone, plus the new SIM will support 5G and will be physically compatible with the new mobile.

Current mobiles support Wi-Fi calling, this gives perfect voice calls when at home ( or on any Wi-Fi )
regardless of the local 4G/5G coverage.

[ALF28]

Thanks for the advice, I am buying 3 new mobile phones today which are fully 4g compatible so that should solve the issue I hope. Tesco have confirmed again  that from 2025 all services will be 4g or 5g, removing the 3g and 2g mobile phone service which is powered by the 02 network. I will have a lot of redundant old mobiles to scrap.

Only a small % of customers were using the older 2g networks, but they will need to upgrade next year probably.

[goslow]

I think there will be all sorts of fun and games when the UK shutdown is fully implemented. The Australians have recently completed their shutdown

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIJavqEzEIw

which seems to be a total shutdown of 2G and 3G and their issues have been compounded by a block on devices which are deemed incapable of making an emergency call on 4G. Problems have emerged on device compatibility (even when badged as 4G VOLTE capable) and issues of using devices across networks with different SIMS.

FWIW, if you are buying new phones ALF28, I think your approach of checking future compatibility of the phones with the specific network you intend to use them on is the right way to go.

[Adduxi]

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@ALF28 wrote:

<SNIP>  I will have a lot of redundant old mobiles to scrap.

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LOL, I have a drawer full of old phones that I really should recycle, all gathered up from years ago 😉

[Roger_Gooner]

O2 is slow, by the time it gets rid of 3G in 2025 the other three MNOs will already have done so. In fact Vodafone and EE haven't supported 3G for nine months.

For Internet access both the phone and SIM card must support 4G or 5G. Although O2 isn't switching off 2G yet it doesn't want its continued usage, so users will be moved off it and will have to also use 4G or 5G to make calls and texts.

[Client62]

I believe O2 may be intentionally slow to retire 2G/3G to maintain support for Smart Meters.

[japitts]

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@ALF28 wrote:

Tesco have confirmed again  that from 2025 all services will be 4g or 5g, removing the 3g and 2g mobile phone service which is powered by the 02 network.

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Tesco are talking nonsense. The joys of an MVNO!

There are no confirmed dates for any 2G shutdown, indeed all UK operators are still actively installing 2G kit. O2 are the last network to decommission 3G, the other networks have all already done so.

SIMs are not specific to any "G", there is not a necessity to replace a SIM every upgrade cycle unless yours is not working or doesn't fit a new phone.

@Client62 wrote:

I believe O2 may be intentionally slow to retire 2G/3G to maintain support for Smart Meters.

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O2 are slow with a lot of things!

[ALF28]

The date for 2G switch off is unknown but customers will be moved away from 2G-

Virgin Media O2 Reveals UK Plan for 2G Mobile Switch Off - ISPreview UK

Switching off the UK’s 2G and 3G mobile networks: what you need to know - Ofcom

I was unlucky trying to purchase some Nokia mobiles, The stocks had run out today at my local Argos, so I will order them online, It would be nice to have a date for 2G switch off, but It will be gradually phased out by changing over customers to 4G/5G s  and is up to the operators to choose the date.

02 has piggyback operators such as Tesco,Lycamobile, and giffgaff which I am using,so each may have a different date for 2G switch off.

My collection of old mobile phones will soon be up to 9 items.

[japitts]

I'm well aware of the various switchoff target dates from my day job.

Lyca Mobile uses EE, not O2.