Hi, Asda Mobile here, using Vodafone network.

Out of curiosity, I set my phone as "Autoselect 2G/3G". I can still get
mobile data. Weren't they suppose to nuke 3G forever?

Or is it like analogue Radio/TV, that was supposed to shut down in 2006
but it is still on?

--
Ottavio Caruso

On Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:37:31 +0000, Ottavio Caruso
<ottavio2006-usenet2012@yahoo.com> wrote:

>Hi, Asda Mobile here, using Vodafone network.
>
>Out of curiosity, I set my phone as "Autoselect 2G/3G". I can still get
>mobile data. Weren't they suppose to nuke 3G forever?

Also ASDA Mobile. I live in inner London and lost 3G sometime
during the last week (I was at home and using Wi-Fi). A friend
in outer north London still has 3G, or at least did yesterday.

Fear not, you will be losing it, 3G that is. You just don't know
when.
--
Roger

Roger <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:
> On Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:37:31 +0000, Ottavio Caruso
> <ottavio2006-usenet2012@yahoo.com> wrote:
>
>> Hi, Asda Mobile here, using Vodafone network.
>>
>> Out of curiosity, I set my phone as "Autoselect 2G/3G". I can still get
>> mobile data. Weren't they suppose to nuke 3G forever?
>
> Also ASDA Mobile. I live in inner London and lost 3G sometime
> during the last week (I was at home and using Wi-Fi). A friend
> in outer north London still has 3G, or at least did yesterday.
>
> Fear not, you will be losing it, 3G that is. You just don't know
> when.

Vodafone 3G is still active here. I suspect it’s a regional affair,
probably involving site visits by engineering staff.

On Wed 14/02/2024 18:39, Tweed wrote:
> Roger <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>> On Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:37:31 +0000, Ottavio Caruso
>> <ottavio2006-usenet2012@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>
>>> Hi, Asda Mobile here, using Vodafone network.
>>>
>>> Out of curiosity, I set my phone as "Autoselect 2G/3G". I can still get
>>> mobile data. Weren't they suppose to nuke 3G forever?
>>
>> Also ASDA Mobile. I live in inner London and lost 3G sometime
>> during the last week (I was at home and using Wi-Fi). A friend
>> in outer north London still has 3G, or at least did yesterday.
>>
>> Fear not, you will be losing it, 3G that is. You just don't know
>> when.
>
> Vodafone 3G is still active here. I suspect it’s a regional affair,
> probably involving site visits by engineering staff.
>

They might have to disconnect the Tx from the aerial combiner (most
sites are shares with O2) and put a dummy load on it to keep the
matching, and possibly turn the power on the other transmitters down a
tad so that they comply with the site licence.
I would guess that at some point (after other 3G users on the site have
also switched off) they would also want to remove the 3G aerials to
reduce wind loading on the structure and leave space for 5G if necessary.

This ain't going to be cheap!!

Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> On Wed 14/02/2024 18:39, Tweed wrote:
>> Roger <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>>> On Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:37:31 +0000, Ottavio Caruso
>>> <ottavio2006-usenet2012@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>
>>>> Hi, Asda Mobile here, using Vodafone network.
>>>>
>>>> Out of curiosity, I set my phone as "Autoselect 2G/3G". I can still get
>>>> mobile data. Weren't they suppose to nuke 3G forever?
>>>
>>> Also ASDA Mobile. I live in inner London and lost 3G sometime
>>> during the last week (I was at home and using Wi-Fi). A friend
>>> in outer north London still has 3G, or at least did yesterday.
>>>
>>> Fear not, you will be losing it, 3G that is. You just don't know
>>> when.
>>
>> Vodafone 3G is still active here. I suspect it’s a regional affair,
>> probably involving site visits by engineering staff.
>>
>
> They might have to disconnect the Tx from the aerial combiner (most
> sites are shares with O2) and put a dummy load on it to keep the
> matching, and possibly turn the power on the other transmitters down a
> tad so that they comply with the site licence.
> I would guess that at some point (after other 3G users on the site have
> also switched off) they would also want to remove the 3G aerials to
> reduce wind loading on the structure and leave space for 5G if necessary.
>
> This ain't going to be cheap!!
>
>
>

Why remove the antennas? The frequencies are going to be reused for 4 and
5G. I guess they might want to replace life expired antennas or perhaps
deploy ones that are more sophisticated, eg phased arrays.

On Wed 14/02/2024 18:52, Tweed wrote:
> Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>> On Wed 14/02/2024 18:39, Tweed wrote:
>>> Roger <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>>>> On Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:37:31 +0000, Ottavio Caruso
>>>> <ottavio2006-usenet2012@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>
>>>>> Hi, Asda Mobile here, using Vodafone network.
>>>>>
>>>>> Out of curiosity, I set my phone as "Autoselect 2G/3G". I can still get
>>>>> mobile data. Weren't they suppose to nuke 3G forever?
>>>>
>>>> Also ASDA Mobile. I live in inner London and lost 3G sometime
>>>> during the last week (I was at home and using Wi-Fi). A friend
>>>> in outer north London still has 3G, or at least did yesterday.
>>>>
>>>> Fear not, you will be losing it, 3G that is. You just don't know
>>>> when.
>>>
>>> Vodafone 3G is still active here. I suspect it’s a regional affair,
>>> probably involving site visits by engineering staff.
>>>
>>
>> They might have to disconnect the Tx from the aerial combiner (most
>> sites are shares with O2) and put a dummy load on it to keep the
>> matching, and possibly turn the power on the other transmitters down a
>> tad so that they comply with the site licence.
>> I would guess that at some point (after other 3G users on the site have
>> also switched off) they would also want to remove the 3G aerials to
>> reduce wind loading on the structure and leave space for 5G if necessary.
>>
>> This ain't going to be cheap!!
>>
>>
>>
>
> Why remove the antennas? The frequencies are going to be reused for 4 and
> 5G. I guess they might want to replace life expired antennas or perhaps
> deploy ones that are more sophisticated, eg phased arrays.
>

Oh no they're not. 3G runs on 2110MHz plus or minus a bit and there is
an allocation around 1400MHz for H3G although I don't know if that is in
use.
4G uses the 800MHz band, and 2300MHz and 2600MHz bands.
5G will largely be in the 700MHz and 3400-3600MHz bands.
The 2110MHz band will cease in most cases.
2G uses the 900MHz band (VF and O2) and several allocations around
1790-1860MHz with EE on high power and O2 and VF on low power filler sites.

Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> wrote:
> On Wed 14/02/2024 18:52, Tweed wrote:
>> Woody <harrogate3@ntlworld.com> wrote:
>>> On Wed 14/02/2024 18:39, Tweed wrote:
>>>> Roger <invalid@invalid.invalid> wrote:
>>>>> On Wed, 14 Feb 2024 11:37:31 +0000, Ottavio Caruso
>>>>> <ottavio2006-usenet2012@yahoo.com> wrote:
>>>>>
>>>>>> Hi, Asda Mobile here, using Vodafone network.
>>>>>>
>>>>>> Out of curiosity, I set my phone as "Autoselect 2G/3G". I can still get
>>>>>> mobile data. Weren't they suppose to nuke 3G forever?
>>>>>
>>>>> Also ASDA Mobile. I live in inner London and lost 3G sometime
>>>>> during the last week (I was at home and using Wi-Fi). A friend
>>>>> in outer north London still has 3G, or at least did yesterday.
>>>>>
>>>>> Fear not, you will be losing it, 3G that is. You just don't know
>>>>> when.
>>>>
>>>> Vodafone 3G is still active here. I suspect it’s a regional affair,
>>>> probably involving site visits by engineering staff.
>>>>
>>>
>>> They might have to disconnect the Tx from the aerial combiner (most
>>> sites are shares with O2) and put a dummy load on it to keep the
>>> matching, and possibly turn the power on the other transmitters down a
>>> tad so that they comply with the site licence.
>>> I would guess that at some point (after other 3G users on the site have
>>> also switched off) they would also want to remove the 3G aerials to
>>> reduce wind loading on the structure and leave space for 5G if necessary.
>>>
>>> This ain't going to be cheap!!
>>>
>>>
>>>
>>
>> Why remove the antennas? The frequencies are going to be reused for 4 and
>> 5G. I guess they might want to replace life expired antennas or perhaps
>> deploy ones that are more sophisticated, eg phased arrays.
>>
>
> Oh no they're not. 3G runs on 2110MHz plus or minus a bit and there is
> an allocation around 1400MHz for H3G although I don't know if that is in
> use.
> 4G uses the 800MHz band, and 2300MHz and 2600MHz bands.
> 5G will largely be in the 700MHz and 3400-3600MHz bands.
> The 2110MHz band will cease in most cases.
> 2G uses the 900MHz band (VF and O2) and several allocations around
> 1790-1860MHz with EE on high power and O2 and VF on low power filler sites.
>
>

Ofcom removed the linkage between modulation method and frequency band a
number of years ago. The operators are free to use their licensed spectrum
as they see fit. 3G spectrum will be reused for 4 and 5G. Graphical
representations of use at tne link below.

https://pedroc.co.uk/content/uk-commercial-mobile-spectrum

“Originally used for 3G services, the 2100MHz band is rapidly being
refarmed in the UK for 4G and more recently 5G (+/- via DSS) services.
Three utilises up to all their allocation for 4G services, or has 3G
services at the base with 4G +/- 5G DSS at the upper segment. O2 utilises
it almost always for 4G services, with DSS limited. Vodafone has long since
used the spectrum entirely for 4G/4G+5G DSS. BT's EE meanwhile we have not
seen above 15MHz paired 4G/4G+5G DSS/5G only yet.”

Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
> Ofcom removed the linkage between modulation method and frequency band a
> number of years ago. The operators are free to use their licensed spectrum
> as they see fit. 3G spectrum will be reused for 4 and 5G. Graphical
> representations of use at tne link below.
>
> https://pedroc.co.uk/content/uk-commercial-mobile-spectrum
>
> “Originally used for 3G services, the 2100MHz band is rapidly being
> refarmed in the UK for 4G and more recently 5G (+/- via DSS) services.
> Three utilises up to all their allocation for 4G services, or has 3G
> services at the base with 4G +/- 5G DSS at the upper segment. O2 utilises
> it almost always for 4G services, with DSS limited. Vodafone has long since
> used the spectrum entirely for 4G/4G+5G DSS. BT's EE meanwhile we have not
> seen above 15MHz paired 4G/4G+5G DSS/5G only yet.”

I was assuming it's the same kit on the BTS doing 2/3/4/5G and so just a
software change to refarm spectrum between the different bands, but I
suppose they could have legacy kit still there that needs to be removed,
which will happen as and when they undertake works on site.

Theo

Theo <theom+news@chiark.greenend.org.uk> wrote:
> Tweed <usenet.tweed@gmail.com> wrote:
>> Ofcom removed the linkage between modulation method and frequency band a
>> number of years ago. The operators are free to use their licensed spectrum
>> as they see fit. 3G spectrum will be reused for 4 and 5G. Graphical
>> representations of use at tne link below.
>>
>> https://pedroc.co.uk/content/uk-commercial-mobile-spectrum
>>
>> “Originally used for 3G services, the 2100MHz band is rapidly being
>> refarmed in the UK for 4G and more recently 5G (+/- via DSS) services.
>> Three utilises up to all their allocation for 4G services, or has 3G
>> services at the base with 4G +/- 5G DSS at the upper segment. O2 utilises
>> it almost always for 4G services, with DSS limited. Vodafone has long since
>> used the spectrum entirely for 4G/4G+5G DSS. BT's EE meanwhile we have not
>> seen above 15MHz paired 4G/4G+5G DSS/5G only yet.”
>
> I was assuming it's the same kit on the BTS doing 2/3/4/5G and so just a
> software change to refarm spectrum between the different bands, but I
> suppose they could have legacy kit still there that needs to be removed,
> which will happen as and when they undertake works on site.
>
> Theo
>
>

I suspect the 3G kit is life expired and needs removing. Despite the modern
cell site radio kit being all software configurable singing all dancing it
still needs connecting to resonant antennas, so I suspect new antenna
panels are part of the works at some sites.