Will 4G Improve after the 3G Shutdown?

[Nimbus1]

Hello

Where I live, my house falls in between the edges of 2 different cell tower segments for 4G, so getting a 4G signal from ether cell tower means standing outside the house (getting 4G inside the house is darn near impossible). Inside the house I do get a good steady 3G signal for making phone calls and texts, which is perfect for what I need. (Checked using Cellmapper app)

Come the 3G shutdown I will have to spend my life outside the house to get a 4G signal, just to make and receive voice calls and text messages – a bad situation for 2023…

So, here is the 64-million-dollar question:

I have read that the service providers e.g., Vodafone, will be repurposing their 3G frequencies for 4G and 5G – giving more coverage, faster speeds and better reliability for both networks. They go onto to say that the spectrum band that carries their 3G traffic today is 900 MHz. This is extremely useful spectrum, as it allows signal to travel long distances and provides good indoor coverage. This spectrum can also be repurposed to carry 4G and 5G traffic. Ultimately, they’ll have 4G and 5G traffic across a wide range of spectrum bands, giving the best combination of rural coverage, indoor coverage, and great data speeds, enabling them to give their customers a reliable network to run their businesses on.

Does this statement above mean that my current very poor 4G signals from the 2 cell towers will get their power increased, thus overlapping the two cell tower segments and proving me good 4G coverage inside the house?

Thanks

[Pluginz]

Very good question that is 🙂

I have a different outlook on it. Only my personal whacked out twisted mind of thinking, haha.

I reckon, once the 3g is made redundant from the mobiles, it'll then be used for electric smart meters and the network data transmission to the energy companies. Its a high % that will happen.

At the moment, theres two types of network data for smart meters. 

First generation is 2.4ghz, which however you want to look at it, thats either 2.4ghz wireless, or 2.4ghz bluetooth. Bluetooth is 2.4ghz. 

The service is not suppose to use your own network within your home, like your wireless, so, it must be bluetooth for data transmission of first gen smart meters to the networks.  How they do that i really dont know.  Its Ethernet over Power i think, Power over Ethernet.  POE - EOP.

If you look in an electric box in a cul-de-sac, you will likely see a long aerial sticking out from behind the brick wall or guarded metal fence. This is from a steel pole bolted to the ground with a 2.4ghz aerial on the top.

Second generation for smart meter data transmission is the cellular network. 🙂

By the end of 2021 there was millions and millions of smart meters installed all over the UK. By next year, they hoping to push everyone into a new smart. Im certainly not having one.

For me, theres a massive data protection, privacy breaching, spying system, on the usage of your home electric system.  They'll know when ya television is on, when you have shower, cooking, playing on your PC. They'll even know what films youre watching on your television from the data sniffed from the HDMI cables.  Learning what youre doing in the home. They can ##~## off, i aint having one.

AT the moment im getting spammed to hell, from EDF, about a smart meter.  Really alot of emails and very pushy.  Im not backing down.
Its not for you to save money, not at all.  Its to figure out the supply and demand of electric.  Government knows the diesel engine is killing us all.  Electric has to take over.

This second gen data system yes, is using the cellular network for meters. They will need as much data bandwidth as they can in the future, and for me, thats where the old 3g will go.

Twisted thinking?  I dunno, haha 🙂

[Nimbus1]

Hi Pluginz

Yes, Smart Meters are a good question. From my understanding the Smart Meter network primarily uses the 2G network as Smart Meters only need to send and receive tiny amounts of data.

From what I've also read, the 2G network will be kept up and running until near 2035, with only the 3G network being shutdown starting in 2023-2025.

If after switching off the 3G network, the providers do not 'turn up the power' on the 4G network cell towers, there are going to suddenly be a lot of people with very poor or non-existent phone signal.

[Pluginz]

I totally agree with you and yes, its going to get worse before it gets any better.  
If its been like this for how long now? 8-10 years, unless they bloody well hurry up and get IPv6 running properly, all the networks will run like a dream.  We all know that. With IPv6 it'll be different.  
The data will be allocated effectively.
Like Wikipedia says in a quote.  4g data signals need IPv6 to work properly.

Way too much money making in the modern society.
Over employed companies with people trying to design things which dont need to be created.  
So much stuff created in this world, and nothing is destroyed.

What happened to 1g?  Which was the old wap. 

Safe

[mdibb]

I hope it will improve... I currently have to use the 3G because the 4G in our area has so much contention, that 3G comes over quicker! With 4 bars 4G, we get around 5Mbps with 1.5s ping time. Tried the SIM in a few different devices same results. Tried a Voxi PAYG SIM, same results. The 4G doesn't sustain a call like the 3G. Same story in Brighton where I work.  I've got a 1yr old child so I need to be reachable. Will have to consider alternatives to Vodafone if they cut us off 😞 

[Kathe_Lucas]

One of the main benefits of shutting down 3G networks is that it will allow mobile network operators to reallocate the spectrum currently used by 3G to other technologies such as 4G and 5G. This will enable them to increase the capacity and speed of their networks, resulting in improved performance for users.

[Nimbus1]

Thanks Kathe_Lucas

I have also read this statement which makes perfect sense for 'data' services being improved through increased Capacity and Speed for 4G and 5G, once 3G is switched off.

What is missing however is the improvement of the cell tower 'radius power' for the 4G and 5G signal for those people that cannot pickup a stable 4G signal inside their house today and rely completely on 3G for making and receiving voice calls and text messages inside their homes. For me, an improved 4G 'capacity' and 'speed' is meaningless if I can't pickup the 4G signal in the first place! I also have no need for data services over the cell network as I have a 1G FTTP service into the house - I just need a reliable mobile network for telephone and text message services.

Reading the OFCOM summary of the 3G switch off, it did state an interesting fact that making and receiving voice calls and text messages (no data), could still be provided over the 2G network. I was not aware that 2G was still able to provide voice and text services? If true, 2G could be our lifeline, if not, going outside to higher ground to pickup a 4G signal will be our only option...

[Nimbus1]

Just read the official press release from Vodafone UK (Vodafone announces UK 3G switch off from June 2023) This is fine for those people that already get a good 4G signal from inside their home, but not good for those that still rely on 3G for calls and texts (not data) from inside their homes.

It is interesting the wording Vodafone used in their press release:

“The decision to switch-off 3G – which is in line with all UK mobile network operators – will see 3G coverage gradually phased out and replaced by strengthened 4G and 5G services, so customers across more parts of the UK can access more reliable connectivity. Vodafone’s 2G network, which currently covers over 99% of the UK population, will remain in place for calls and texts.”

It would be nice to know what Vodafone really means behind the word ‘strengthened’? Does it just mean faster, more efficient 4G or does it also mean a stronger boosted signal strength as well? At least 2G has been confirmed as still being available for calls and texts as a fall back

[Pluginz]

I remember when i used to make calls on Netmeeting with a 5.6 modem.

The audio at 8kb/s was almost perfect. Video stuttered abit, but it was usable.

Today, advertisments reckon a 100mbit line gives you a clear voice conference. Ha, dont make me laugh.

[japitts]

Coverage footprints are largely dictated by the frequencies in use, not the technology.

Any discussion of "3G gives better coverage" is therefore misled by how an operator has deployed their frequency holdings on a local level.

As mentioned by another poster, for non-4G/VoLTE compatible devices, 2G will continue to support calls & texts for many years to come.