Recently, the NCEC announced the shutdown of 3G networks and a full transition to 4G, which will make it impossible for owners of non-4G smartphones to use fast mobile internet.
“Mobile operators will start shutting down their 3G networks this year to make way for 4G and provide faster and better services,” the regulator said.
Users freaked out
Some media outlets quickly picked up the news and slightly modified it for the sake of loud headlines. And it turned out, unfortunately, that the good news about the introduction of the latest technologies turned into a horror story: “Ukrainians will be disconnected from 3G this year. Mobile operators in Ukraine will fully switch to 4G in 2025.”
If you don’t see the source, anyone who uses 3G/UMTS voice and data services will be scared.
What to do
In fact, mobile operators will provide maximum information and favorable offers for subscribers during the transition from 3G to 4G, as announced by the NCEC:
- Operators will notify you before switching off 3G in your area.
- If your phone already supports 4G, no action is required.
- If your smartphone does not support 4G/LTE, consider replacing your device with a more modern one. This will allow you to stay connected and use the mobile Internet without restrictions.
The disconnection of 3G will not affect your ability to make calls, send SMS or use other basic services. However, for high-speed Internet, it is worth switching to 4G now to avoid inconveniences in the future.
Ukrtelecom explains
The press service of Ukrtelecom, which owns mobile operator TriMob, points out that the announcement does not mean a complete abandonment of 3G/UMTS networks. Each operator has its own plan that differs geographically.
“We have no right to speak on behalf of all market participants, but no one is going to turn off 3G. This is a long and painstaking process that will take into account the number of consumers and available network resources in each geographical area (sometimes in a single locality). Perhaps someone has already noticed that one of the mobile operators’ networks has been without 3G coverage in several cities for quite some time, and nothing happened,” the statement said.
How will the transition from 3G to 4G go?
- None of the market participants has announced a complete abandonment of 3G coverage in 2025. This process will take a little longer, and again, each operator has its own plan.
- Operators will definitely take the necessary preventive actions to reduce the negative impact on subscribers. Everyone is interested in this, so when you wake up in the morning, you won’t be surprised by the lack of services on your phone!
- The disconnection of the 3G network will not affect the provision of voice and SMS services in any way. Data transfer in 2G networks is a pain in the ass, but basic services will work, and thanks to national roaming, which works for 2G/3G networks, even if you can’t update your gadget, you can always switch to another network where 3G is still working.
- Operators will not turn off 3G in places where there is no 4G. This is, of course, an opportunity for manipulation – it is impossible to create an absolutely accurate map showing the available services, but operators have the experience for any scenario.
- The beginning of the process does not mean its complete completion. This once again shows the length of the 3G network shutdown process in time and space.
What TriMob promises
The operator’s press service notes:
- “Most TriMob subscribers and partners have the opportunity and work in the networks of both the main roaming partner and others. You always have an alternative.
- Of course, the operator has been preparing for such a scenario and will demonstrate the results of this work this year. So you need to be patient😊.
