Networks supporting 2G only phones

outtatune

My mum doesn't use the internet at all on her phone; just calls and texts, and very very low use at that, so she has a 2G only phone which suits her just fine.

Tesco Mobile have texted to say that with their upcoming 3G switchoff she will need to get a new 4G capable handset.

Their site is clear as mud but suggests that although 2G is staying she won't be able to actually use it for calls and texts.
https://www.tescomobile.com/help/device-help/network-and-troubleshooting/network-support/3g

Does anyone know if any other PAYG providers with light use friendly tariffs will still support calls and texts on 2G only?

elsien

2G will be going for calls at some point, but no definite dates from the providers. 

So until 02 (Which Tesco mobile piggyback off)  switch off their 2G network, she should still be able to use it. Unless they are withdrawing that service? 

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/3g-switch-off/#:~:text=2G%20will%20be%20switched%20off,and%203G)%20services%20beyond 

outtatune

Thank you @elsien though according to that Tesco Mobile page she won't be able to. It's very confusing.

Newcad

That Tesco page isn't very clear at all is it.

It does seem to be aimed at the majority of people who use smartpones.

From what I can make of that webpage it's mainly trying to convince you that everybody will need a new phone and new SIM.

Whilst that is not yet strictly correct for all providers, they do appear to be saying that Tesco will be withdrawing support for their old 2G/3G SIMS.
If they do withdraw that support then the SIM will stop working regardless of whether 2G is still broadcasting or not.

Your best option would seem to be to get a new 4G capable basic phone (AKA a 'Feature Phone') for your mum.

They are not expensive, eg:
https://www.argos.co.uk/product/2911946
https://www.amazon.co.uk/TTfone-TT760-Emergency-Assistance-Unlocked/dp/B0CK5TWF8R
There are others, most seem to be Nokia models. (Or you could get a smartphone anyway, your mum might become an internet guru, or just want to use video calling).
Those are SIM Free phones so you will need to get a 4G SIM as well, for light use a PAYG one should be fine.
If you get a SIM-Free phone like the one above then you can get your SIM from any Provider, look for one with a 'Talk and Text' plan or with no plan.
This one from EE has no plan, you put money on as you want/need, use it until it's gone and then put more on: https://ee.co.uk/mobile/free-sim
If you look round you may find one with cheaper call/text rates, or your mum may prefer to have a renewing pack/budle with calls and texts included in the monthly cost, eg: https://ee.co.uk/mobile/pay-as-you-go-sim-only#

PHK

elsien said:

2G will be going for calls at some point, but no definite dates from the providers. 

So until 02 (Which Tesco mobile piggyback off)  switch off their 2G network, she should still be able to use it. Unless they are withdrawing that service? 

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-and-broadband/coverage-and-speeds/3g-switch-off/#:~:text=2G%20will%20be%20switched%20off,and%203G)%20services%20beyond 

This is not up to date. O2 (the host network for Tesco) have announced that starting next year they will migrate consumers away from 2G starting with those with 2G only handsets. (2G will be reserved for emergency calls in some areas , IoT and M2M use)

The best option would be the OP to buy a VoLTE compatible phone. It doesn’t have to be a smartphone, a 4G Nokia starts at about £25 and less second hand. 

forgotmyname

After watching some security related videos nobody should be using 2G.  Although the risk for the average user is
low it's enough to get off it ASAP.

Cisco001

Any network should support 2G phone.
However, 4G Nokia 110 is only £25

outtatune

Thanks all, it does look like she'll need a new 4G handset. A cheap Nokia to replace her current cheap Nokia will be just fine; I think I'll buy now rather than wating for the swtichoff as I suspect there'll be a huge search in demand then

flaneurs_lobster

Cisco001 said:

Any network should support 2G phone.

3 won't, never has. 

400ixl

Make sure the new phone supports 4G VOLTE calling as just saying 4G compatible may mean that is just 4G data.

spreadsheeterapple

outtatune said:

My mum doesn't use the internet at all on her phone; just calls and texts, and very very low use at that, so she has a 2G only phone which suits her just fine.

Tesco Mobile have texted to say that with their upcoming 3G switchoff she will need to get a new 4G capable handset.

Their site is clear as mud but suggests that although 2G is staying she won't be able to actually use it for calls and texts.
https://www.tescomobile.com/help/device-help/network-and-troubleshooting/network-support/3g

Does anyone know if any other PAYG providers with light use friendly tariffs will still support calls and texts on 2G only?

Hi I am the same, have a 2G handset and a 2G SIM apparently, both O2. I use it only for incoming texts & alerts, meds reminders, codes; I'm also an OAP.
They texted me out of the blue on 7/11 saying their upgraded network meant they would no longer support old phones & old sims, though they didn't specifically mention 2G (I only found that out later). They said a replacement sim could be sent for free which would allow the old phone to keep working. I rang to get that ordered by post 14/11, took a week to arrive. I thought I'd get my son to swap the sims on his next visit as I didn't know how, BUT O2 remotely disabled my phone a few days later without telling me. They had never notified me that was their intention, nor did I even know it was possible to do that to me inside my locked house! Shockingly, well I was shocked, they wouldn't switch it back on even for a week whilst I got help, despite me pleading currently being housebound and had left me unable to get shopping delivery as couldn't get the bank codes to pay by card.

The free replacement SIM they sent is supposed to keep my 2G handset working on their new network, but I don't know how long it will work for. They seemed to be laughing at me that I had a non-smartphone, or a phone so old that the sim was from yr 2000 out of an original Nokia 3310, and the handset was an O2-branded phone bought 2005. They told me they had switched off 2G in my area, though other people tell me that's untrue; O2 also said they were switching off 3G in April, and that the only phones usable after that would be 4G or 5G. I countered that it shouldn't be possible to bully me into changing phones as the old ones were not broken, and I expected to use them until they had (broken); operator said something along the lines of 'having' to have the innovation.

So basically, you're going to need to sort something out asap, as O2 behaviour is quite bullying, they give no time at all to get replacement.