Sponsored Links

UK 2G/3G Shutdown Thread

The thing is they won't. Just like O2 leaves towns with no bandwidth in 2024, the people need to figure out for themselves what network works in X and Y area. In every rural place I can think of there is usually a network that's atleast crappy if not No Service, but people generally talk to each other and realise what works and what doesn't. The way you described EE's coverage of that area, I doubt anybody was using EE in the first place, no mind Three

This is always EEs approach though, they favour data rather than calls, Modern technologies are always put infront even if that means a worse experience for the customers. I am curious though, can you even connect to EDGE? I haven't been able to on EE, I just see No Service if it's a bad area
I did get some EDGE cells picked up last night on EE on Seeek because of weak 4G
 
I would also like to know what they plan to do, I live in a rural country side in Northern Ireland in a no coverage zone from any provider and have lived here nearly 10years now and when 02 switch off 3G I won't be able to use their 02 boost box anymore that works off the internet and broadcasts a 3G signal around the house for our phones to pick up.
None of the providers have expanded their coverage to reach our area yet.
As they move forward to switch off 3G hopefully they do something to expand coverage and upgrade their networks at the the same time.

Also as goverment move forward to switch off the copper phone lines by 2025 hopefully they actually do something to get Fibre to our house, Others on my road have had access to Fibrus as a provider from Project Stratum for the past 2years , Fibrus have their cable on the pole in my garden, and i'm not able to sign up, and the Department For The Economy have no intrest in sorting that out -.-
I'm surprised the Boost Box is still working, you should look into WiFi calling and check if your devices support it
 
I'm surprised the Boost Box is still working, you should look into WiFi calling and check if your devices support it
WiFi Calling is inconsistent though, not all devices support texts through it

My old phone didn't and I know of a member living in a rural area also having issues with OTP texts with WiFi calling, requiring their partner to drive the car somewhere

Pixel and P20 supported it fully from what I can see though
 
WiFi Calling is inconsistent though, not all devices support texts through it

My old phone didn't and I know of a member living in a rural area also having issues with OTP texts with WiFi calling, requiring their partner to drive the car somewhere

Pixel and P20 supported it fully from what I can see though

Indeed and last I checked o2 didn’t support SMS over WiFi calling. All the other network support it.
 
Indeed and last I checked o2 didn’t support SMS over WiFi calling. All the other network support it.
Pretty sure O2 have had this for some time now.


2022 by the looks of that old community post.

They were late to implement it for sure.
 
Indeed and last I checked o2 didn’t support SMS over WiFi calling. All the other network support it.
They do support SMS over WiFi calling, had it work on a Huawei P20 and my Pixel 6 Pro.

I think it might be because your phone doesn't support the network fully, my old Xiaomi couldn't handle it.
 
Confirmed, EE really have shut down the 3G serving my parents' rural community, so that leaves them on EDGE only or band 20 that doesn't work.

Vodafone and O2: 4G.

Three: 3G only.

What does EE plan to do about rural communities? Will they be using the SRN or are they too good for it, instead writing press releases about their failure to meet the same rural coverage as VO2 from several years ago?

I guess they'll have to move to a Virgin / O2 provider? It if you are in a good deal or an old contract that's good value still being honoured you'll lose it.
I've decided to move my main number to 1P for now and will then get a new Smarty Sim later on and test how their switch off has affected my area, likewise with Tesco Mobile. This forced switch off is going to really highlight the holes in the UK infrastructure.
 
I would also like to know what they plan to do, I live in a rural country side in Northern Ireland in a no coverage zone from any provider and have lived here nearly 10years now and when 02 switch off 3G I won't be able to use their 02 boost box anymore that works off the internet and broadcasts a 3G signal around the house for our phones to pick up.
None of the providers have expanded their coverage to reach our area yet.
As they move forward to switch off 3G hopefully they do something to expand coverage and upgrade their networks at the the same time.

Also as goverment move forward to switch off the copper phone lines by 2025 hopefully they actually do something to get Fibre to our house, Others on my road have had access to Fibrus as a provider from Project Stratum for the past 2years , Fibrus have their cable on the pole in my garden, and i'm not able to sign up, and the Department For The Economy have no intrest in sorting that out -.-

I feel there will be many cases like yours, that will simply be left out. The only silver lining is mobile coverage as that impacts an area other than just you. So fingers crossed they'll upgrade your mast to 4G at least and it's good enough to give you broadband service. Better than nothing at all. When they came to blow the fibre through the Open Reach ducting the other day for me for my fibre to the door, they said another provider already has their cables to the manholes, but this other provider, I won't name them, has informed me they will not be serving my housing estate for 'commercial reasons', probably due to the fact they charge twice as much as anyone else, still that leaves me with one choice of provider and anyone who happens to use their network, and it means that provider has the monopoly and can provide what ever service they like, good or bad.

When you look at it, the whole thing is a bit of a mess, forced 3G and copper switch off in a relatively short space of time. And companies not able to or willing to cover areas with new technologies. With countless new mobile masts being rejected planning approval weekly it seems.
 
Last edited:
I feel there will be many cases like yours, that will simply be left out. The only silver lining is mobile coverage as that impacts an area other than just you.
From what he said I don’t think he had any coverage in the first place, just that when the 3G switch off goes ahead he won’t have access to the network the O2 Boost Box provides. He should switch to another provider which has Calls and SMS over WiFi calling, is my best advice
 
this other provider, I won't make them, has informed me they will not be serving my housing estate for 'commercial reasons', probably due to the fact they charge twice as much as anyone else, still that leaves me with one choice of provider and anyone who happens to use their network
This is Trooli right? They did the same here but to someone a few streets over
 
This is Trooli right? They did the same here but to someone a few streets over

Nope not them, they are slowly coming towards me but no guarantee they will. They are in a village a few miles away at present. I think they have my village in site. Personally I think the only reasons we even got one provider to serve our estate is because a new estate is being built to the side and another new one being built opposite, about 250 new homes total. Fibre is the only new infrastructure being installed.
 
From what he said I don’t think he had any coverage in the first place, just that when the 3G switch off goes ahead he won’t have access to the network the O2 Boost Box provides. He should switch to another provider which has Calls and SMS over WiFi calling, is my best advice
O2 supports calls and SMS over WiFi calling

1000012390.webp

1000012389.webp
 
From what he said I don’t think he had any coverage in the first place, just that when the 3G switch off goes ahead he won’t have access to the network the O2 Boost Box provides. He should switch to another provider which has Calls and SMS over WiFi calling, is my best advice

Ah yes I misread. So with no internet they have no mobile signal. And that highlights another issue, if you move to fibre and once the copper lines are disconnected, if you get a power cut or a fibre fault and you need to call emergency services you can't as you have no mobile signal and if a fibre goes down so does your phone line.
 
Nope not them, they are slowly coming towards me but no guarantee they will. They are in a village a few miles away at present. I think they have my village in site. Personally I think the only reasons we even got one provider to serve our estate is because a new estate is being built to the side and another new one being built opposite, about 250 new homes total. Fibre is the only new infrastructure being installed.
So you're unlikely to see the true clear speed of gigabit broadband?
 
So you're unlikely to see the true clear speed of gigabit broadband?

Oh I'll get that, just the price and customer service levels may not be the best. Like if I get a break how long will take them to fix it kind of thing. Hopefully I'm just being paranoid about it.
 
Top
Cheap BIG ISPs for 100Mbps+
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Vodafone UK ISP Logo
Vodafone £24.00 - 26.00
150Mbps
Gift: None
NOW UK ISP Logo
NOW £24.00
100Mbps
Gift: None
Plusnet UK ISP Logo
Plusnet £25.99
145Mbps
Gift: £50 Reward Card
Large Availability | View All
Cheapest ISPs for 100Mbps+
Gigaclear UK ISP Logo
Gigaclear £17.00
200Mbps
Gift: None
Community Fibre UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Virgin Media UK ISP Logo
Virgin Media £22.99
132Mbps
Gift: None
Hey! Broadband UK ISP Logo
150Mbps
Gift: None
Youfibre UK ISP Logo
Youfibre £23.99
150Mbps
Gift: None
Large Availability | View All
Sponsored Links
The Top 15 Category Tags
  1. FTTP (6024)
  2. BT (3639)
  3. Politics (2720)
  4. Business (2439)
  5. Openreach (2405)
  6. Building Digital UK (2330)
  7. Mobile Broadband (2144)
  8. FTTC (2083)
  9. Statistics (1899)
  10. 4G (1814)
  11. Virgin Media (1763)
  12. Ofcom Regulation (1582)
  13. Fibre Optic (1467)
  14. Wireless Internet (1462)
  15. 5G (1405)
Sponsored

Copyright © 1999 to Present - ISPreview.co.uk - All Rights Reserved - Terms  ,  Privacy and Cookie Policy  ,  Links  ,  Website Rules