Turning off 3G

[Col33]

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.

[Col33]

Thought I would post an update to my original query and what happened.

My service dropped in Mar/Apr from 30mb on 3G to 9mb on 4G. Had several chats with different Three experts and in the end they stated:- " have checked the details and I can see that you are having issue in the area. There is an issue with the mast in your area right now, which our teams are working hard to fix. The issue is taking longer to resolve than we hoped. While we don’t have an exact fix date just yet, our teams are working hard to get things back up and running. The last thing we want is for you to leave Three. If we’re not able to provide the level of service you expect right now, however, letting you move on to another provider is the right thing to do. How does that sounds."


Unfortunately I had no other options so took a £4 reduction in my monthly bill instead. 

I believe 3G has now been turned off and guess what, my service has dropped from the heady highs of 9mb to 3mb with upload of 0.2. I went back to Three today and asked if they would honour the original cancellation offer especially as I only have 2 months remaining. They refused but offered to charge me more than 2 months payments to cancel it today.

Not happy with the chat or service I have received over the past 9 months and have now switched to Vodaphone which has provided the following downloads since it arrived - 60.9mb, 80.9mb and 56.8mb.

Thanks to all those who helped me with issues but this is now my last update as from the 28th December I will be cancelling my contract for good.

[JonathanB]

Hi @Col33,

I'm sorry to hear this has been the outcome. In the long term replacing 3G should result in higher speeds, but I can appreciate with the length of time you've been dealing with this, and no guarantee on when this will improve that you've taken out an alternative service.

Just to clarify are you being charged an Early Termination Fee for cancelling in December?

Thanks,
Jonathan

[Col33]

If I cancel today they would charge me but if I cancel on the 28th December then I can cancel without any fee as my contract ends on the 3rd Feb. I was hoping they would cancel if without a fee today but they were not willing to do so.

Diary note has been made for the 28th Dec!

[JonathanB]

Thanks @Col33,

I've sent you a PM to get you in touch with some colleagues who ought to be able to deal with this in a simpler way,

To view your private messages on the community, click on your avatar image in the top right of any community page, then "Messages".

Thanks,
Jonathan

[robertm1988]

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.

[Col33]

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!

[JonathanB]

Hi @Col33,

I'll be happy to take a closer look into this for you. I'll send you a PM to check some info.

Thanks,
Jonathan

[Threlly]

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.

[Threlly]

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.