Networks supporting 2G only phones

Heedtheadvice

You should not be tied to O2 as the Network Operator ( unless your phone is locked and that can usually be changed)

I have never used my phones over the years locked to a specific network as I allow selection of the best signal and that gives better coverage especially in rural areas.

Do have a look in settings to see if you can use different networks and still pay and use as you have in the past.

10Wbulb

It’s not totally clear but EE 2G for texts and calls, could be available until 2033, I will be trying to switch from Tesco pay as you go to EE pay as you go, in the near future, I will update probably in a week. Four weeks ago, Tesco (which I understand uses O2) sent me a text saying it was ending 2G at the end of 2024 but it’s still working for texts at the moment, I only use the phone for 2 factor authentication.

PHK

EE announced this week that they will begin migrating 2G only customers to 4G soon, starting with business customers. 

HillStreetBlues

10Wbulb said:

It’s not totally clear but EE 2G for texts and calls, could be available until 2033, I will be trying to switch from Tesco pay as you go to EE pay as you go, in the near future, I will update probably in a week. Four weeks ago, Tesco (which I understand uses O2) sent me a text saying it was ending 2G at the end of 2024 but it’s still working for texts at the moment, I only use the phone for 2 factor authentication.

You could try those who use the EE network.if ever sending texts  RWG is 5p per text EE is 20p

outtatune

Update: I got my mum a Nokia 110 4G for £25 including a £10 topup.
https://www.tesco.com/phones/products/06438409085085

facade

Argos sell the vodaphone Nokia 105 for £13.50 and the 110 for £19.99. I bought the 105, the difference is an SD card slot that I'd never use.

They aren't locked (Thank you Ofcom!) and work fine with Tesco Sims, except my precious* Tesco PAYG SIM won't fit- AFAIK all 4G phones take nano SIM and my precious PAYG is a micro SIM. I may have to get the mini grinder to it.

*Precious because it is a true PAYG, make one call every 90 days to keep it active, not like the "Pay monthly, every month on the dot, but it isn't a contract" sims you get off them now.

10Wbulb

PHK said:

EE announced this week that they will begin migrating 2G only customers to 4G soon, starting with business customers. 

That is true, but it looks like ending the 2G service is some way off, see:-

https://www.ispreview.co.uk/index.php/2025/01/mobile-operator-ee-sets-out-uk-approach-to-future-2g-switch-off.html#:~:text=Having%20first%20spoken%20publicly%20about,built%20Internet%20of%20Things%20(IoT)

Close to the end EE say:-

“In the years ahead, we will be preparing our network for the closure of 2G.”

10Wbulb

outtatune said:

Update: I got my mum a Nokia 110 4G for £25 including a £10 topup.
https://www.tesco.com/phones/products/06438409085085

It’s a terrible phone, you have to press 2 buttons to turn it on, it turns itself off every 10 secs or so, the battery doesn’t last very long, I sent a text and somehow sent a video too, it is not user friendly, I am a pensioner and have given up with it.

Eyeful

haze23: Lets be more specific, which of the network operators are you using?

outtatune

facade said:

Argos sell the vodaphone Nokia 105 for £13.50 and the 110 for £19.99. I bought the 105, the difference is an SD card slot that I'd never use.

They aren't locked (Thank you Ofcom!) and work fine with Tesco Sims, except my precious* Tesco PAYG SIM won't fit- AFAIK all 4G phones take nano SIM and my precious PAYG is a micro SIM. I may have to get the mini grinder to it.

*Precious because it is a true PAYG, make one call every 90 days to keep it active, not like the "Pay monthly, every month on the dot, but it isn't a contract" sims you get off them now.

10Wbulb said:

outtatune said:

Update: I got my mum a Nokia 110 4G for £25 including a £10 topup.
https://www.tesco.com/phones/products/06438409085085

It’s a terrible phone, you have to press 2 buttons to turn it on, it turns itself off every 10 secs or so, the battery doesn’t last very long, I sent a text and somehow sent a video too, it is not user friendly, I am a pensioner and have given up with it.

I did look at the Argos deal but thought she'd be more comfortable with a phone bought direct from her provider, didn't mind paying a little bit extra for a useless camera

And @10wbulb - she finds it easy, she used to have one of the old 2G 105s and they work in pretty much the same way.