Where I live, when 3G was switched off, the situation remained good because prior to switch-off, my handset was normally connected to 4G anyway and the 4G signal was good. It was away from home that I noticed the lack of a data connection or, laughably, 2.75G "Edge" which was like being in a time warp back to 20 years ago! BUT... since July, I have been plagued, both at home and when working away from home, with just one or two bars of 4G reception where, previously, I had three or four bars, e.g. full signal. This not a fault with my handset as I have two, both from different manufacturers, and both, since July, have only one or two bars of reception on 4G for most of the time and in most locations. So what's going on? All I can think of is that some of the 4G antennas are being used for 5G NSA, thus reducing the capacity for those with either 4G handsets or those who opt to only use their 5G capable handsets with 4G. I have concerns about: 1) Greater battery drain and 2) Bleeding edge security risk with 5G and so both my 5G handsets are manually restricted to 4G. I have zero need for 5G data speeds but I have great need, when out doing my job, working alone in safety critical areas and with high risk data, for a battery that lasts all day. I think all the networks, in their race to please the perceived demand, don't realise that 4G is enough for a large percentage of people. 3G was probably enough for a large percentage of people! Hope this info is useful, inasmuch as the 3G switch-off didn't affect me at the time but, since July 2024, 4G has dwindled to one or two bars almost all the time and almost everywhere. Use of more 4G antennas for 5G NSA, or something similar or akin to that, is all I can think of, unless Vodafone has turned the power down but I'm sure that's impractical and unlikely. Meanwhile my third handset, for my other job, which is on O2, has a great 3G and 4G signal almost all the time.
