• BBC News: 'Old phone' warning as 3G network switched off

    From JMB99@mb@nospam.net to uk.telecom.mobile on Mon Jan 12 08:26:02 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    BBC News

    'Old phone' warning as 3G network switched off

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgy840w9xno

    1 hour ago

    "Mobile phone owners with devices more than 10 years old may need to get
    a new one as 2G and 3G networks are phased out, a tech expert has said.

    The switch off of the 3G network is almost complete after mobile phone operators were given a 2033 deadline by the government, with O2 to
    switch off its 3G network gradually in the coming weeks."
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Andy Burns@usenet@andyburns.uk to uk.telecom.mobile on Mon Jan 12 08:35:23 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    JMB99 wrote:

    The switch off of the 3G network is almost complete

    O2 3G still visible here, it's been the only one for around a year.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Java Jive@java@evij.com.invalid to uk.telecom.mobile on Mon Jan 12 10:06:29 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    On 2026-01-12 08:35, Andy Burns wrote:

    JMB99 wrote:

    The switch off of the 3G network is almost complete

    O2 3G still visible here, it's been the only one for around a year.

    Here, staying with cousins in Glenfinnan, there's only LTE. Attempts to
    make calls between my tablet bought in 2016 and my phone bought last
    year fail. The reason is that, despite the tablet being able to receive
    data via LTE as I have just demonstrated to myself (and its navigation
    app helped guide me here), it doesn't support LTE calling, so all the predictions that I needed to change my phone were correct, and I'm happy
    with the resulting choice of a Pixel 8a.
    --

    Fake news kills!

    I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website: www.macfh.co.uk

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Dave Royal@dave@dave123royal.com to uk.telecom.mobile on Mon Jan 12 10:06:38 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    JMB99 <mb@nospam.net> Wrote in message:

    BBC News

    'Old phone' warning as 3G network switched off

    https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/articles/ckgy840w9xno

    1 hour ago

    "Mobile phone owners with devices more than 10 years old may need to get
    a new one as 2G and 3G networks are phased out, a tech expert has said.

    The switch off of the 3G network is almost complete after mobile phone operators were given a 2033 deadline by the government, with O2 to
    switch off its 3G network gradually in the coming weeks."

    Here in Kent I can see O2/3G and Voda, T-mobile (it's an old phone) 2G.

    This piece suggests that O2 is going to (mostly) disable 2G
    roaming. So maybe 2G will only work on a local SIM. <https://help.wirelesslogic.com/hc/en-gb/articles/29767911004946-O2-UK-Withdrawal-of-2G-3G-Inbound-Roaming-Updated-Information>

    I tried my Fonic (German) SIM and it still works on O2/3G.
    --
    Remove numerics from my email address.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Woody@harrogate3@ntlworld.com to uk.telecom.mobile on Mon Jan 12 18:44:22 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    On Mon 12/01/2026 10:06, Java Jive wrote:
    On 2026-01-12 08:35, Andy Burns wrote:

    JMB99 wrote:

    The switch off of the 3G network is almost complete

    O2 3G still visible here, it's been the only one for around a year.

    Here, staying with cousins in Glenfinnan, there's only LTE.-a Attempts to make calls between my tablet bought in 2016 and my phone bought last
    year fail.-a The reason is that, despite the tablet being able to receive data via LTE as I have just demonstrated to myself (and its navigation
    app helped guide me here), it doesn't support LTE calling, so all the predictions that I needed to change my phone were correct, and I'm happy with the resulting choice of a Pixel 8a.


    Strange. 2G should still be working and your tablet should fall back to
    that for speech and texts - unless of course you have set the tablet to
    not use 2G (which I would be surprised if you can do.)
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Tweed@usenet.tweed@gmail.com to uk.telecom.mobile on Mon Jan 12 20:13:57 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> wrote:
    On Mon 12/01/2026 10:06, Java Jive wrote:
    On 2026-01-12 08:35, Andy Burns wrote:

    JMB99 wrote:

    The switch off of the 3G network is almost complete

    O2 3G still visible here, it's been the only one for around a year.

    Here, staying with cousins in Glenfinnan, there's only LTE.-a Attempts to >> make calls between my tablet bought in 2016 and my phone bought last
    year fail.-a The reason is that, despite the tablet being able to receive >> data via LTE as I have just demonstrated to myself (and its navigation
    app helped guide me here), it doesn't support LTE calling, so all the
    predictions that I needed to change my phone were correct, and I'm happy
    with the resulting choice of a Pixel 8a.


    Strange. 2G should still be working and your tablet should fall back to
    that for speech and texts - unless of course you have set the tablet to
    not use 2G (which I would be surprised if you can do.)


    Not if it is on a 3 SIM.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Java Jive@java@evij.com.invalid to uk.telecom.mobile on Mon Jan 12 20:35:54 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    On 2026-01-12 20:13, Tweed wrote:
    Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> wrote:
    On Mon 12/01/2026 10:06, Java Jive wrote:
    On 2026-01-12 08:35, Andy Burns wrote:

    JMB99 wrote:

    The switch off of the 3G network is almost complete

    O2 3G still visible here, it's been the only one for around a year.

    Here, staying with cousins in Glenfinnan, there's only LTE.-a Attempts to >>> make calls between my tablet bought in 2016 and my phone bought last
    year fail.-a The reason is that, despite the tablet being able to receive >>> data via LTE as I have just demonstrated to myself (and its navigation
    app helped guide me here), it doesn't support LTE calling, so all the
    predictions that I needed to change my phone were correct, and I'm happy >>> with the resulting choice of a Pixel 8a.

    Strange. 2G should still be working and your tablet should fall back to
    that for speech and texts - unless of course you have set the tablet to
    not use 2G (which I would be surprised if you can do.)

    Not if it is on a 3 SIM.

    Spusu, so, yes, Three.
    --

    Fake news kills!

    I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website: www.macfh.co.uk

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Tweed@usenet.tweed@gmail.com to uk.telecom.mobile on Mon Jan 12 21:10:03 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    Java Jive <java@evij.com.invalid> wrote:
    On 2026-01-12 20:13, Tweed wrote:
    Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> wrote:
    On Mon 12/01/2026 10:06, Java Jive wrote:
    On 2026-01-12 08:35, Andy Burns wrote:

    JMB99 wrote:

    The switch off of the 3G network is almost complete

    O2 3G still visible here, it's been the only one for around a year.

    Here, staying with cousins in Glenfinnan, there's only LTE.-a Attempts to >>>> make calls between my tablet bought in 2016 and my phone bought last
    year fail.-a The reason is that, despite the tablet being able to receive >>>> data via LTE as I have just demonstrated to myself (and its navigation >>>> app helped guide me here), it doesn't support LTE calling, so all the
    predictions that I needed to change my phone were correct, and I'm happy >>>> with the resulting choice of a Pixel 8a.

    Strange. 2G should still be working and your tablet should fall back to
    that for speech and texts - unless of course you have set the tablet to
    not use 2G (which I would be surprised if you can do.)

    Not if it is on a 3 SIM.

    Spusu, so, yes, Three.


    Spusu uses EE.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Dave Royal@dave@dave123royal.com to uk.telecom.mobile on Mon Jan 12 22:12:20 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> Wrote in message:

    On Mon 12/01/2026 10:06, Java Jive wrote:
    On 2026-01-12 08:35, Andy Burns wrote:

    JMB99 wrote:

    The switch off of the 3G network is almost complete

    O2 3G still visible here, it's been the only one for around a year.

    Here, staying with cousins in Glenfinnan, there's only LTE. Attempts to
    make calls between my tablet bought in 2016 and my phone bought last
    year fail. The reason is that, despite the tablet being able to receive
    data via LTE as I have just demonstrated to myself (and its navigation
    app helped guide me here), it doesn't support LTE calling, so all the
    predictions that I needed to change my phone were correct, and I'm happy
    with the resulting choice of a Pixel 8a.


    Strange. 2G should still be working and your tablet should fall back to
    that for speech and texts - unless of course you have set the tablet to
    not use 2G (which I would be surprised if you can do.)


    My 2012 Nexus 7 didn't support 2G. It didn't support telephony or
    SMS with the standard software either - only HSPDA.
    --
    Remove numerics from my email address.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Andy Burns@usenet@andyburns.uk to uk.telecom.mobile on Tue Jan 13 08:36:13 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    Woody wrote:

    2G should still be working and your tablet should fall back to that for speech and texts - unless of course you have set the tablet to not use
    2G (which I would be surprised if you can do.)

    Actually recent Android phones *do* have an option to disable "less
    secure" 2G calling, but will still use it for emergency calls ...

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Andy Burns@usenet@andyburns.uk to uk.telecom.mobile on Tue Jan 13 08:39:20 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    Dave Royal wrote:

    My 2012 Nexus 7 didn't support 2G.

    Mine was wifi-only, I thought they all were?

    It didn't support telephony or
    SMS with the standard software either - only HSPDA.

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Nick Finnigan@nix@genie.co.uk to uk.telecom.mobile on Tue Jan 13 09:16:42 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    On 13/01/2026 08:36, Andy Burns wrote:
    Woody wrote:

    2G should still be working and your tablet should fall back to that for
    speech and texts - unless of course you have set the tablet to not use 2G >> (which I would be surprised if you can do.)

    Actually recent Android phones *do* have an option to disable "less secure" 2G calling, but will still use it for emergency calls ...

    Mine has an option to 'Allow 2G' calling; all 3G networks have gone, my
    only choice inside is O2 2G or wifi.
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Java Jive@java@evij.com.invalid to uk.telecom.mobile on Tue Jan 13 09:41:32 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    On 2026-01-12 21:10, Tweed wrote:
    Java Jive <java@evij.com.invalid> wrote:
    On 2026-01-12 20:13, Tweed wrote:
    Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> wrote:
    On Mon 12/01/2026 10:06, Java Jive wrote:
    On 2026-01-12 08:35, Andy Burns wrote:

    JMB99 wrote:

    The switch off of the 3G network is almost complete

    O2 3G still visible here, it's been the only one for around a year. >>>>>
    Here, staying with cousins in Glenfinnan, there's only LTE.-a Attempts to >>>>> make calls between my tablet bought in 2016 and my phone bought last >>>>> year fail.-a The reason is that, despite the tablet being able to receive >>>>> data via LTE as I have just demonstrated to myself (and its navigation >>>>> app helped guide me here), it doesn't support LTE calling, so all the >>>>> predictions that I needed to change my phone were correct, and I'm happy >>>>> with the resulting choice of a Pixel 8a.

    Strange. 2G should still be working and your tablet should fall back to >>>> that for speech and texts - unless of course you have set the tablet to >>>> not use 2G (which I would be surprised if you can do.)

    Not if it is on a 3 SIM.

    Spusu, so, yes, Three.

    Spusu uses EE.

    Yes, my mistake, I was thinking of the mobile internet connection back
    at home, which is IdMobile, and that is Three.
    --

    Fake news kills!

    I may be contacted via the contact address given on my website: www.macfh.co.uk

    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Andy Burns@usenet@andyburns.uk to uk.telecom.mobile on Tue Jan 13 09:59:09 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    Andy Burns wrote:

    Actually recent Android phones *do* have an option to disable "less
    secure" 2G calling, but will still use it for emergency calls ...

    On my Pixel

    settings
    network & internet
    SIMs
    [O2]
    2G network protection

    the toggle defaults to off

    "avoids 2G networks, which are less secure. This may limit connectivity
    in some places. 2G is always allowed for emergency calls, but calls may
    not connect if you're roaming internationally"
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Ottavio Caruso@ottavio2006-usenet2012@yahoo.com to uk.telecom.mobile on Tue Jan 13 14:54:29 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    Am 12.01.26 um 20:35 schrieb Java Jive:
    On 2026-01-12 20:13, Tweed wrote:
    Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> wrote:
    On Mon 12/01/2026 10:06, Java Jive wrote:
    On 2026-01-12 08:35, Andy Burns wrote:

    JMB99 wrote:

    The switch off of the 3G network is almost complete

    O2 3G still visible here, it's been the only one for around a year.

    Here, staying with cousins in Glenfinnan, there's only LTE.
    Attempts to
    make calls between my tablet bought in 2016 and my phone bought last
    year fail.-a The reason is that, despite the tablet being able to
    receive
    data via LTE as I have just demonstrated to myself (and its navigation >>>> app helped guide me here), it doesn't support LTE calling, so all the
    predictions that I needed to change my phone were correct, and I'm
    happy
    with the resulting choice of a Pixel 8a.

    Strange. 2G should still be working and your tablet should fall back to
    that for speech and texts - unless of course you have set the tablet to
    not use 2G (which I would be surprised if you can do.)

    Not if it is on a 3 SIM.

    Spusu, so, yes, Three.


    Spusu works shit on my non-Volte compliant phone.
    --
    Ottavio Caruso
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Ottavio Caruso@ottavio2006-usenet2012@yahoo.com to uk.telecom.mobile on Tue Jan 13 14:55:15 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    Am 13.01.26 um 09:59 schrieb Andy Burns:
    Andy Burns wrote:

    Actually recent Android phones *do* have an option to disable "less
    secure" 2G calling, but will still use it for emergency calls ...

    On my Pixel

    settings
    network & internet
    SIMs
    [O2]
    2G network protection

    the toggle defaults to off

    "avoids 2G networks, which are less secure.-a This may limit connectivity
    in some places.-a 2G is always allowed for emergency calls, but calls may not connect if you're roaming internationally"

    Not everybody is a rich bastard enough to have a Pixel.
    --
    Ottavio Caruso
    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2
  • From Andy Burns@usenet@andyburns.uk to uk.telecom.mobile on Tue Jan 13 17:21:46 2026
    From Newsgroup: uk.telecom.mobile

    Ottavio Caruso wrote:

    Not everybody is a rich bastard enough to have a Pixel.
    I have the cheapskate "a" series pixel, besides I don't know whether
    non-pixel phones have the same setting, I suspect some do ...


    --- Synchronet 3.21a-Linux NewsLink 1.2