EE has updated customers about a major change to its mobile network coming next year.
The firm – along with all other UK providers – have already announced that they are shutting down part of their network which will affect how some phones work.
Old 3G is being retired across the country to make room for more 4G and 5G services.
The move means anyone with a dated phone not capable of 4G or 5G will lose internet access from their data – though 3G data can barely handle a WhatsApp message in most places.
Under the plans, EE has already said it will offer vulnerable customers a free 4G-ready mobile phone upgrade, or a discount on a pay monthly plan for those who want to choose their own handset.
But the BT-owned provider has shared an update about its plans, revealing the first locations to receive superior enhanced 5G once 3G has been retired.
They are:
- Belfast
- Darlington
- Uxbridge
- Dartford
- Solihull
- York
- Dagenham
- Hayes
- Harringay
- London
The company told customers that they can still use their 3G phone to make calls and texts via 2G, which is being kept on for now.
“999 calls are also not reliant on 3G being available, with EE customers still able to call the emergency services as they do today by using our 2G network or Wi-Fi Calling,” explained Greg McCall, Chief Networks Officer at BT.
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“In an emergency, 999 calls will also automatically roam onto any available mobile network to connect.”
According to BT, EE’s 3G is responsible for less than 0.4 per cent of all downloaded data.
“When 3G launched in the early 2000s, Tony Blair was Prime minister, Gareth Gates was topping the music charts, and the Nokia 1100 was the best-selling mobile phone,” McCall added.
“There was no iPhone, no Netflix, no Spotify, no Zoom, no WhatsApp or videocalls on the move, and no cloud gaming.
“3G was built to serve a different world than the one we live in today.”
Vodafone is planning dismantle its 3G starting with Glasgow by early 2024, while Three will follow at the end of 2024.
Virgin Media O2 say it is pulling the plug in 2025.
iPhone tricks to try today
Here are some of the best…
- Typing cursor – When typing, hold down the space bar to turn your keyboard into a trackpad, letting you move around words and sentences more easily
- Close all Safari tabs – To do this in one go, simply hold the overlapped squares in the bottom right-hand corner, and press close all tabs
- Delete lots of photos quickly – Hold down on a photo and then drag your finger diagonally in Photos to select lots of images at once, then hit delete
- Convert currency quickly – Swipe down from the top of your Home screen (or swipe left to right on an iPhone X or later model), then tap in the bar and type a currency (like $200) and it will automatically covert to your local currency
- Check if you’re due a battery upgrade – Batteries inside smartphones degrade over time. Just go to Settings > Battery > Battery Health, and check out the Maximum Capacity reading. Generally a battery is considered worn when you’re down to 80% capacity. If you’re below, you can buy a battery swap from Apple
- Move apps around faster – Hold an app until it starts wiggling, then (while still holding) tap other apps, causing them to stack so you can move them around easier
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