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

MiserlyMartin

PHK said:

littlemoney said:

My four year old Samsung is 3g and cost me over £200. That's expensive. £50+ a year average cost. I had expected it to be suitable for much longer and feel cheated. Changes being made purely for the benefit of large conurbations, rather than areas of smaller populations. Big cities don't need improved services, the more rural areas do.

Actually the move to 4G and 5G is to provide better coverage to rural areas. 

In my rural area the signal on the 3G bands is far stronger and the download speed far higher as a result. 4G is typically around 2Ghz range, the 900MHz of 3G is of course much better coverage. Turning this off is a bad idea unless they are going to re-deploy the 3G spectrum for 5G or 4G. I don't know and I haven't currently got the time to keep up to date with their plans but I'm sure someone here will know

PHK

MiserlyMartin said:

PHK said:

littlemoney said:

My four year old Samsung is 3g and cost me over £200. That's expensive. £50+ a year average cost. I had expected it to be suitable for much longer and feel cheated. Changes being made purely for the benefit of large conurbations, rather than areas of smaller populations. Big cities don't need improved services, the more rural areas do.

Actually the move to 4G and 5G is to provide better coverage to rural areas. 

In my rural area the signal on the 3G bands is far stronger and the download speed far higher as a result. 4G is typically around 2Ghz range, the 900MHz of 3G is of course much better coverage. Turning this off is a bad idea unless they are going to re-deploy the 3G spectrum for 5G or 4G. I don't know and I haven't currently got the time to keep up to date with their plans but I'm sure someone here will know

In rural areas the 800 Mhz band is already used for 4G,(see digital switchover of TVs),  as will the 700Mhz  once its  available  

And of course once 3G is switched off the bandwidth will be re-purposed for 4G/5G

You need to be careful comparing signal levels as 4G and 5G were designed to give better performance at lower levels. That 3G is giving better speeds than 4G probably means that the 4G signal is congested (often the case on Three) so switching to 3G will result in fewer users and more speed. That's not a fault of the technology but the network not increasing the number of masts.

Devonsaver

I am confused.  I have a Samsung S5 which is not 4G calling or 5G enabled. 

BT tells me that the 3G network will be switched off next month, but I will still be able to make calls and send messages using 2G.  It then goes on to say I won't be able to use Whatsapp etc.

But doesn't Whatsapp use Wifi not the mobile connection (unless there is no Wifi), so as long as I am at home or somewhere with free Wifi, won't it still work? 

flaneurs_lobster

Devonsaver said:

I am confused.  I have a Samsung S5 which is not 4G calling or 5G enabled. 

BT tells me that the 3G network will be switched off next month, but I will still be able to make calls and send messages using 2G.  It then goes on to say I won't be able to use Whatsapp etc.

But doesn't Whatsapp use Wifi not the mobile connection (unless there is no Wifi), so as long as I am at home or somewhere with free Wifi, won't it still work? 

Be good to have sight of that communication from BT, think there may be some misunderstanding.

When 3G goes away your phone will use 2G for calls and texts. It will use 4G for mobile data. WhatsApp (and every other app on your phone) doesn't care if the data connection is mobile or via wi-fi. 

Maybe the BT comment was directed at users who may have phones without 4G capability (some "feature" phones or smartphones even older than yours).

Devonsaver

Thank you. It came as a text message, which I cannot find how to forward to here.  However, there is very much the same message on the BT website under
bt.com
products
mobile
about/
3g switch off

It won't allow me to give a link, because I am a newbie

So I think the answer is I can still get Whatsapp etc through Wifi on my phone and I don't need a new phone unless I want to use mobile data on the 4g/5g for these applications.  

flaneurs_lobster

Devonsaver said:

So I think the answer is I can still get Whatsapp etc through Wifi on my phone and I don't need a new phone unless I want to use mobile data on the 4g/5g for these applications.  

Not quite, your phone has 4G data capability.

Devonsaver

Thank you flaneurs lobster. Much appreciated.

For your info, I worked out to take a screenshot of the text message from BT and here it is

eDicky

The text message refers only to your phone not being capable of 4G Calling (VoLTE), so the 3G switch off will impact you in respect of only being able to use 2G for calls instead of 3G as now. You may not even notice any difference, as long as a decent 2G connection is available. If it turns out that you are seriously affected, time for a new phone I'm afraid. You might like to update us with how it goes next month.

KxMx

The 3g went off recently and as expected cr@ppy 4g from Vodafone.
Most times at home no signal defaults to Wifi Calling.
While out saw the dreaded E trying to access mobile data.

Am talking to Vodafone to see if they can help but doubt it.

My old spare handset has Tesco Mobile 3-4 bars consistently at home, going to start carrying it when out for a few weeks as direct comparison.

With no LL I'm not willing to be so reliant on WiFi calling, also unwilling to give it loads of time to wait and see if Vodafone improves the 4g locally. 

Can't find a good O2 backed fit yet, Tesco Mobile is 50% more expensive and doesn't offer unlimited calls/texts, GiffGaff don't do WiFi calling, reluctant to give up that feature with no LL. 

flaneurs_lobster

KxMx said:

Can't find a good O2 backed fit yet, Tesco Mobile is 50% more expensive and doesn't offer unlimited calls/texts, GiffGaff don't do WiFi calling, reluctant to give up that feature with no LL. 

What deal are you trying to match/better?