MSE News: Vodafone has become the first major mobile network to switch off 3G

MSE_Chris

Vodafone has become the first major mobile network to switch off 3G in parts of the country with other networks set to follow. Here's how to check if your handset is impacted and what you need to do about it.

Read the full story:
'Got an old phone? You may soon lose internet access as Vodafone begins to turn off 3G with others to follow'

If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply.

rustytwig

Will MiFi devices no longer work if they are not 4G?

dekdee

This looks like the state of the art £1000+ phones that we have now will get 4 & 5g cut off in the future.
All it is basically is a signal (like a TV areal) 
What a swizz

dld2s

But what about the planet! up to 5.5 million perfectly good phones binned and more resources used for new phones, not very green is it

Rich2808

My phone supports 4g but I can often only use 3G data with my provider. Sometimes 4g works sometimes it doesn’t but 3G always gives me a connection.

I probably need to upgrade phone anyway and I have until the end of next year apparently to sort this out. Even if I don’t get a signal the freebies with a coffee firm and a cinema group more than pay for my monthly mobile fee!

Casskale

dekdee said:

This looks like the state of the art £1000+ phones that we have now will get 4 & 5g cut off in the future.
All it is basically is a signal (like a TV areal) 
What a swizz

Of course they will, but you obviously don't understand how this works.

There is a limited amount of the electromagnetic spectrum, and that spectrum is limited in how much of it is useful for communications. What they're doing is freeing up the spectrum for use with newer, more useful technologies.

3G is now about 21 years old.  Very few people will have 3G only phones at this point. 

artyboy

Casskale said:

dekdee said:

This looks like the state of the art £1000+ phones that we have now will get 4 & 5g cut off in the future.
All it is basically is a signal (like a TV areal) 
What a swizz

Of course they will, but you obviously don't understand how this works.

There is a limited amount of the electromagnetic spectrum, and that spectrum is limited in how much of it is useful for communications. What they're doing is freeing up the spectrum for use with newer, more useful technologies.

3G is now about 21 years old.  Very few people will have 3G only phones at this point. 

I'm fine with that, but given my 'state of the art' phone still cuts back to 3G several times a day, I'd like to have a consistent 4/5G signal before I lose this backup...

ProDave

artyboy said:

Casskale said:

dekdee said:

This looks like the state of the art £1000+ phones that we have now will get 4 & 5g cut off in the future.
All it is basically is a signal (like a TV areal) 
What a swizz

Of course they will, but you obviously don't understand how this works.

There is a limited amount of the electromagnetic spectrum, and that spectrum is limited in how much of it is useful for communications. What they're doing is freeing up the spectrum for use with newer, more useful technologies.

3G is now about 21 years old.  Very few people will have 3G only phones at this point. 

I'm fine with that, but given my 'state of the art' phone still cuts back to 3G several times a day, I'd like to have a consistent 4/5G signal before I lose this backup...

Isn't the point of turning off 3G so they can re use the bandwidth that used to occupy to improve 4G or 5G services?  so chances are when 3G is turned off instead your phone will get a better 4G signal and will continue working.

Really the only people to "worry" are those with really old 3G only phones.

nrmsmith

Don’t electricity & gas Smart Meters also rely on the 3G network?  Are they going to stop working?

PHK

nrmsmith said:

Don’t electricity & gas Smart Meters also rely on the 3G network?  Are they going to stop working?

As far as I know they are 2G and modern ones are 4G. 

KxMx

I'm definitely hoping when 3g goes off locally, the 4g improves as a result because it is absolutely pants. I actually have my phone set to 3g only, because otherwise it defaults to the poor 4g, even though the 3g signal is much better.