Implications of the imminent Three 3G network switch-off

[KeithF0338]

Hi all.

looking for some info on this.
I'm currently with 48 over 3 years and on the €7.99 plan.
I'm happy enough with the network sure for that price you can't go wrong.
my location has good 3G 4G coverage But no 2G coverage at all.
here's were my problem could be.
3 are meant to be turning off the 3G service this year and 3G is used for calls and texts and Data. 4G is just for Data.
I will lose my ability to Make calls over the network. Has anyone any idea what will be done when all the 3G Networks go as 48 don't support wifi calling or VOLTE
any feedback on this
I'd very much appreciate it.

Thanks

[dalyer]

> 3G is used for calls and texts and Data. 4G is just for Data.

This isn't correct. 

4G/LTE supports calls, texts and data.

You should probably check the Three and ComReg 3G switch-off FAQs:

• https://www.three.co.uk/support/network-and-coverage/our-plans-to-switch-off-3g#faqs
• https://www.comreg.ie/advice-information/mobile/the-future-of-mobile/3g-retirement 

From the latter:

What will happen when 3G is retired? 

Older mobile devices that can connect only to 3G and 2G networks will continue to make and receive phone calls over the 2G network, but data services will be affected. This means your ability to connect to the web (via apps and browsers, etc.) will be slower.  

For those with a 4G or 5G-enabled smartphone or device, this change is not likely to affect you. 

If your phone isn't 4G/5G enabled and you don't have 2G coverage then you'll probably have to upgrade to continue using calls/texts/data services.

If you need to contact 48 support about this then see the links in my signature below.

[KeithF0338]

If your carrier doesn't support volte but has 4G, then most likely, your phone switches to 2G Or 3G during a call, and 2G data is quite slow for real time use of the internet. Again, the fix to this problem is to change your carrier to one that supports volte and use wifi.
48 don't support volte.

[dalyer]

> If your carrier doesn't support volte but has 4G, then most likely, your phone switches to 2G Or 3G during a call, and 2G data is quite slow for real time use of the internet

Yes, but is it actually a very common use case for somebody to make a 4G call and want to use the internet/connected apps at the same time? Don't think I've ever done that myself to be honest.

> Again, the fix to this problem is to change your carrier to one that supports volte and use wifi.

If you really need data access while on a 4G call, yes. But do many people depend on this?

I'm not sure if 5G connectivity brings different possibilities with regard to this sort of use case?

[AaronS6679]

As VoLTE isn't supported by 48 yet, this would affect the OP as he has said he has bad 2G coverage, this leaves him with no voice service by the end of the year, when Three is switching off 3G. Voice service on 5G is VoNR, but no provider here supports that yet.

That ComReg article shouldn't say "For those with a 4G or 5G-enabled smartphone or device, this change is not likely to affect you."  As not all providers here support VoLTE so there is no voice service over 4G on 48, Tesco Mobile, Clear Mobile etc. so voice service moves to 2G when 3G is no longer available.