Digital voice and weak to non existent mobile signal - so what do info if there’s a power outage

[rbz5416]

@outlaw123 

Have you ever tried an old style feature phone? I've found that over the years they can pull in signal where a fancy "smart" phone costing 100x as much can't. Here's an example:

Samsung Galaxy S21+

Nokia 105

These are both on the O2 network, side by side. The Samsung has absolutely no signal but the Nokia ha 3 of 5 bars, plenty enough to make a call. I keep the Nokia in the glove box of the car as a backup to breaking down in an area where the Samsung has no signal.

[Paul608085]

@rbz5416 

O2 are switching off their 3G network "by 2025":

https://www.o2.co.uk/help/network-coverage-and-international/3g-switch-off

AFAIK, the other three MNO's are doing the same - possibly to different timescales?

[Wdj]

Of course I’ve checked other mobile providers ! Fact is where we live there are issues with EVERY provider.

[rbz5416]

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@Paul608085wrote:

O2 are switching off their 3G network "by 2025".

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A popular misconception that this will render 3G phones useless. While they are indeed switching off 3G which will mean no data access, 2G will continue for calls & texts.

Customers using the EE, Vodafone and O2 networks with an older device will still be able to make calls and send text messages after 3G switch-off. These services can use the 2G network, which isn’t being switched off yet.

https://www.ofcom.org.uk/phones-telecoms-and-internet/advice-for-consumers/advice/3g-switch-off

In any case, the current take on the feature phone like my Nokia 105 supports 4G anyway.

[Wdj]

We have FTTH….

[outlaw123]

We dont have a mobile mast anywhere near so no signal. We live at the end of a valley in the Lake District.

[ljm]

I too have a feature phone. It's 23 yrs old, a Nokia and on Vodafone. The signal is always strong and voice calls are very clear. Yet my Sony Xperia and Doro smartphones have terrible network signal probs. One is on Vodafone and the other isn't. Without WiFi Calling I wud have trouble maintaining a connection for calls, but my little Nokia feature phone has never let me down over the last 23 years!! 

[caravanj]

@Paul608085 

"a subsidised satellite phone could be the answer."

You are probably right, but who, under the current systems/rules is going to subsidise a satellite phone for @outlaw123  and others like him in a similar situation?

When the mobile phone provider & broadband provider contracts were first awarded to the successful bidders, it was a contractual requirement that these firms provided the service everywhere in the UK.

No one seems to bother enforcing it but, nevertheless, I'm pretty certain that the original contacts still exists in law. 

[rose59]

Oh fantastic... that means in less than 12 months we'll go back a couple of decades and be without any mobile service at all around here... 🙄

[rose59]

The problem isn't having an old device... I have an iPhone 15,  but we have no mobile signal at all in most of the house. Zero. Nothing. Just one spot in the kitchen where we can get 4G.  And even when we're out and about there are numerous areas around us with no 4G reception. Switching providers won't help, no mobile provider has sufficient coverage around here.