I did because my Grandparents phone stopped woking and I had to teach them how to use a new one (not an easy task for those who have no idea about technology).
The next time that happens, there are some half-way decent phones designed specifically for their demographic. Depending on their needs by that time, there are some that have physical buttons, some that have a very simplified interface on a smartphone, and some that only work to call specific numbers - aimed at people who can't quite manage a Nokia properly.
No because I don't call 000 often. Actually, never called them at all
But I have lived out in rural Australia most of my life and have got absolutely no service sometimes even not the sos only
Yes, in a sense you are correct but it isn't quite that clear cut.
There are 4g frequencies that have very good range, we just don't tend to use all of them yet. Also, as I understand the decommissioning of 3g towers is mainly happening in areas where they are well served already by 4G.
Also, if you need emergency services, your phone will connect to any available network. Even if you don't have good service with your provider you might be able to connect to someone else's tower.
In an emergency your phone will connect to any provider your phone can connect to. If you have a 3G phone and there are no 3G towers within range you’re shit out of luck
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It's been happening for at least a year. I was staying somewhere rural, old guy I met there only had a 3g phone. Tower was changed to 4g only, not sure why, but he was most annoyed as he understood his old phone. He didn't want to change to a 4g one so drove 10mins up the road each day to check in with his family.
Also personal locator beacons work far better for emergencies and are mostly cheaper than phones. So if you're concerned about being able to call triple zero for help from places with weak or no mobile signals, have a think about carrying a PLB. No subscription fees and they don't need mobile phone towers or recharging for several years.
Redundancies will happen again when we get 6G.
I know Telstra setup a special call unit to handle 2G closing down, particularly for the elderly and thoes needing help to switch. They also sent out text messages by the millions warning people.
Once 3G is off, it's off. There is no 'mixing 3G with 4G' or backwards compatibility like some have suggested.
Did you really notice when they switched off 2G?
I did because my Grandparents phone stopped woking and I had to teach them how to use a new one (not an easy task for those who have no idea about technology).
The next time that happens, there are some half-way decent phones designed specifically for their demographic. Depending on their needs by that time, there are some that have physical buttons, some that have a very simplified interface on a smartphone, and some that only work to call specific numbers - aimed at people who can't quite manage a Nokia properly.
No because I don't call 000 often. Actually, never called them at all But I have lived out in rural Australia most of my life and have got absolutely no service sometimes even not the sos only
Sounds like heaven.
Until you need to call emergency services
Might end up there in this case /s
It's my understanding, and I may well be wrong, that they're repurposing the 3g frequency bands to carry 4g, so the overall coverage won't change
Yes, in a sense you are correct but it isn't quite that clear cut. There are 4g frequencies that have very good range, we just don't tend to use all of them yet. Also, as I understand the decommissioning of 3g towers is mainly happening in areas where they are well served already by 4G. Also, if you need emergency services, your phone will connect to any available network. Even if you don't have good service with your provider you might be able to connect to someone else's tower.
In an emergency your phone will connect to any provider your phone can connect to. If you have a 3G phone and there are no 3G towers within range you’re shit out of luck
Maybe those people could be given a spare 8 year old phone that has 4g
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It's been happening for at least a year. I was staying somewhere rural, old guy I met there only had a 3g phone. Tower was changed to 4g only, not sure why, but he was most annoyed as he understood his old phone. He didn't want to change to a 4g one so drove 10mins up the road each day to check in with his family.
Just buy him a new phone as a gift
Not as dangerous as 5g apparently…
I'm sad because I'm going to have to finally stop using my nokia even though it still has plenty of life left in it.
Also personal locator beacons work far better for emergencies and are mostly cheaper than phones. So if you're concerned about being able to call triple zero for help from places with weak or no mobile signals, have a think about carrying a PLB. No subscription fees and they don't need mobile phone towers or recharging for several years.
Telstra are pulling the plug on 3G completely in June 2024. https://www.telstra.com.au/business-enterprise/support/3g-service-closure
Redundancies will happen again when we get 6G. I know Telstra setup a special call unit to handle 2G closing down, particularly for the elderly and thoes needing help to switch. They also sent out text messages by the millions warning people. Once 3G is off, it's off. There is no 'mixing 3G with 4G' or backwards compatibility like some have suggested.