topic Re: Turning off 3G in Broadband

Turning off 3G

Col33 — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 11:13:17 GMT

My 2 year contract is due to end in February and I am reviewing my options on renewing. The biggest issue I have at the moment is the switching off of 3G by the end of the year.

Currently I have my router set to 3G only and get 30mb download and 3mb upload. If I switch my router to 4G only the download drops to 9mb and upload to 1mb.

I'm reluctant to agree to a new contract if the plans are to switch of 3G but not boost/increase the 4G in my area. According to the network coverage checker I have:-

Yes - Very good service
Great news – 4G is in your area. If your device is 4G calling compatible, you’ll have very good 4G coverage for calls, texts, and mobile internet.

However this is not the case as my router proves. Can anyone provide me with confidence that 4G will be improved prior to the switch off?

Thanks.

Re: Turning off 3G

sc1999 — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 11:48:45 GMT

I have the same problem and my contract ends in March. 3 have been improving the service and it has gone from p*** poor to poor. My phone still drops to 3g but is now, mostly, 4g. Unfortunately all of the networks, in my area, are poor and I have not decided what to do next. I will be getting the cheapest 10Gb sim from the other networks and testing which offers the best speed and call quality. I suggest you try the same. O2 are turning their 3g off in 2025. I am lucky that I have fast FTTP so I only need phone coverage.

In answer to your question I do not think anyone can provide you with any guarantee that 3 will give you anything other than minimum 4g coverage. 3 Do not give any information about future works other than saying they "are continuously improving our network".

Re: Turning off 3G

lukefowler2023 — Tue, 09 Jan 2024 20:36:16 GMT

3G areas should have 4G coverage added when the 3G is removed

Re: Turning off 3G

sc1999 — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 08:59:23 GMT

Should have but no guarantee of speed. 3 have invested in my area but I only get 15meg download which is the slowest of all networks. 15meg is better than the 3-4 I used to get but does not get close to 3's "fastest 5g network" claim.

Re: Turning off 3G

Col33 — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 09:22:59 GMT

Thanks sc1999. I'm in a rural area and my closest neighbours also have issues. Most of them on EE and get the same of less than what I'm getting. O2 signal is worse and Vodaphone is about the same as Three.

FTTP was promised by OpenReach in 2019 but they have not put in the infrastructure and as its for a total of 9 properties and a farm, I doubt we will be getting it anytime soon.

My issue is, if I sign up with Three for another 2 years and 8 months into that contract my speed drops from 30mb to 9mb then I believe I should be able to leave without penalty!

Re: Turning off 3G

Col33 — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 09:25:09 GMT

According to their coverage site, 4G is in my area but my router and speed checks prove its worse than 3G. If they use the coverage as a guide and don't improve 4G before switching off 3G then I will get a worse service.

Re: Turning off 3G

Col33 — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 09:27:22 GMT

I'm just hoping that my speed does not get worse when 3G is switched off. I am happy with the 30mb considering I got maximum of 7mb on a copper line.

Re: Turning off 3G

lukefowler2023 — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 21:16:38 GMT

when 3G is turned off that capacity will be converted into extra 4G capacity

Re: Turning off 3G

sc1999 — Wed, 10 Jan 2024 21:38:10 GMT

And 5g, according to 3.

Re: Turning off 3G

Col33 — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 10:23:29 GMT

Fingers crossed that is correct for 4G, I doubt we will see 5G in rural areas for many years if at all.

Re: Turning off 3G

sc1999 — Thu, 11 Jan 2024 11:58:59 GMT

You may have to wait until 6g is being rolled out and 4g is being turned off. By then I will be too old to care.

Re: Turning off 3G

Col33 — Sat, 13 Jan 2024 09:43:44 GMT

I must have upset someone. My internet connection has been patchy for the last two days with constant "no internet" and severe buffering. The only fix so far is to switch my router from 3G only to 4G preferred which has improved the situation at the cost of a speed drop from 30mb to 10mb.

According to Three's map, my 3G cut-off is not happening yet so not sure why 3G has suddenly got worse over the past couple of days!

Re: Turning off 3G

Spud — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 11:23:44 GMT

If you don't want to commit to a long contract you could go for an iD Mobile SIM one month contract (£18 unlimited or £16 300GB). They use the Three network. My daughter now has my MF286D 4G router. To test it at her house I popped in my PAYG* iD Mobile SIM and loaded a £20 30-day unlimited bundle. All was fine. After the 30 days she is now on a 12-month unlimited Three SIM via Moneysavingexpert - £11.57/month after automatic cashback.

* if you don't buy another iD Mobile contract it reverts to PAYG 3p/min, 2p/text, 1p/MB using up whatever credit you add, but you can buy bundles as and when you need them.

Re: Turning off 3G

Col33 — Sun, 14 Jan 2024 11:37:51 GMT

Thanks, not a bad idea, I think 1 year deal may be the best option.

Re: Turning off 3G

Threlly — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 09:17:28 GMT

Run away.

Run very far away from these liars.
Get a dial up modem, it will be faster, get almost anything other than anything these shysters provide.

Re: Turning off 3G

Threlly — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 09:21:32 GMT

Just looking at the "loss of 3g will be converted into better 4g/5g speeds" comments.

AHHHHHHH HA HA HA HA HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.

Not in a million years, not a cat's chance in hell.
lol, that's going to keep me giggling all week.

I'll bet good money that speeds will get worse, if that's even possible.
If there's a chance that Three can take more money and provide less service they'll jump at it.
Watch this space lol.

Re: Turning off 3G

sc1999 — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 10:18:59 GMT

shyster

/ˈʃʌɪstə/

noun

INFORMAL

plural noun: shysters

a person, especially a lawyer, who uses unscrupulous, fraudulent, or deceptive methods in business.
"an ambulance-chasing shyster"

Re: Turning off 3G

robertm1988 — Mon, 15 Jan 2024 21:44:09 GMT

I don't think the map actually says if 3G is being switched off in an area.

Re: Turning off 3G

robertm1988 — Wed, 13 Mar 2024 18:30:30 GMT

Well next month they start turning off 3G and H+ in my area. So would it be the same day that the 4/5G is boosted. Though I think some work has been happening as I could only get 4G inside, now I'm seeing 4G+ more often. The warehouse I work in I only get H+ unless I sit by a window then 4G on one bar. Hope that improves too.

Re: Turning off 3G

Col33 — Thu, 14 Mar 2024 10:33:21 GMT

They are certainly doing something. I can no longer use 3G as after a few hours I constantly get unable to connect to the internet. I have therefore put my router back to 4G preferred.

Two years ago, if it found a 4G signal I would drop to one bar on the router with a solid 4 showing. Now I get two bars and a flashing 4G+ which stays solid for approx. 2 seconds at any one time.

Whilst my download has dropped from 30mb to anything between 5 and 9mb, I don't get any buffering when streaming. In fact the connection appears more stable. However, whenever I need to download something it takes HOURS!

Fingers crossed that the 4G+ stays on all the time before the end of the year and perhaps I may even get the third bar back. According to Three's website they have not made any changes in the area!