Phone issues post 3G turn off?

Forums › Spark New Zealand (including Skinny and BigPipe) › Phone issues post 3G turn off?

openmedia

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#324431 8-Apr-2026 17:31

I've been getting a lot of warnings about loosing mobile data on my Nokia G60 5G on Skinny since the 3G shutdown. Usually in the form of a "Your mobile data has been restored" style messages. One app that appears to be seriously affected is Google Maps which often reports I'm offline.

Today I lost VoLTE and Voice over WiFi until I rebooted the phone, but mobile data was working as normal. Tried flight mode on/off but that wasn't sufficient.

Is anyone else seeing issues since the switch off?

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

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#3479298 8-Apr-2026 17:39

Yes lots of people are having issues as they ignored the warnings from the mobile carrier! Hence here we are

Is this a handset sold by Spark?

openmedia

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#3479302 8-Apr-2026 18:04

Linux:

Yes lots of people are having issues as they ignored the warnings from the mobile carrier! Hence here we are

Is this a handset sold by Spark?

No - as Spark no longer sell recent Nokia handsets.

It is from Amazon AU and should work on all NZ networks without any issues. I've used it in many countries and VolTE has worked really well in NZ for many years.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

Jase2985

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#3479304 8-Apr-2026 18:12

openmedia:

Linux:

Yes lots of people are having issues as they ignored the warnings from the mobile carrier! Hence here we are

Is this a handset sold by Spark?

No - as Spark no longer sell recent Nokia handsets.

It is from Amazon AU and should work on all NZ networks without any issues. I've used it in many countries and VolTE has worked really well in NZ for many years.

none of that means it will work on NZ networks

and just because it used to work doesnt mean it still will. there is not more 3g for it to fall back to.

Linux

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#3479307 8-Apr-2026 18:14

openmedia:

Linux:

Yes lots of people are having issues as they ignored the warnings from the mobile carrier! Hence here we are

Is this a handset sold by Spark?

No - as Spark no longer sell recent Nokia handsets.

It is from Amazon AU and should work on all NZ networks without any issues. I've used it in many countries and VolTE has worked really well in NZ for many years.

Worked well until the 3G networks were shutdown and why you got the warnings and chose to ignore them!

Who told you it would work on all NZ networks with no issues? You will need to raise it with them

Batwing

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#3479308 8-Apr-2026 18:19

My poco f2 pro.which is getting long.in the tooth takes several minutes to find the network since shutdownif I airplane mode or reboot but literally everything works when it comes.back up, probably coincidence

openmedia

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#3479309 8-Apr-2026 18:21

Linux:

Worked well until the 3G networks were shutdown and why you got the warnings and chose to ignore them!

Who told you it would work on all NZ networks with no issues? You will need to raise it with them

TBH I'm seriously over these push backs.The whole switch has been a real mess and the Android side of the mobile industry needs to sort out broader compatibility.

I'm asking if anyone else is seeing these issues. My wife's Samsung A36 is also having issues and it is Spark specific model bought locally.

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

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Linux

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#3479310 8-Apr-2026 18:25

SparkNZ warned you how many times? You created this situation / mess by ignoring the warnings ⚠️

Just cause a handset is purchased from Spark does not mean it remains compatible after the 3G shutdown

Linux

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#3479312 8-Apr-2026 18:31

The Samsung A36 5G looks compatible and if it is having issues then raise the issue with SparkNZ you can't for your Nokia handset

openmedia

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#3479313 8-Apr-2026 18:32

Linux:

SparkNZ warned you how many times? You created this situation by ignoring the warnings ⚠️

Just cause a handset is purchased from Spark does not mean it remains compatible after the 3G shutdown

First I'm on Skinny - not spark..

Second my wife's handset is a couple of months old and was sold as a 5G Spark compatible handset.

Last Skinny confirmed this device will work

Generally known online as OpenMedia, now working for Red Hat APAC as a Technology Evangelist and Portfolio Architect. Still playing with MythTV and digital media on the side.

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#3479314 8-Apr-2026 18:35

@openmedia come on Skinny is just a off shoot of Spark it is even owned by Spark and uses the Spark network

As I posted above the handset A36 5G looks compatible with Spark / Skinny so raise the issues with your provider

Oblivian

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#3479340 8-Apr-2026 19:49

Internet suggests no band 28 on apac version.

So you will be on secondary.

Band 28 (700 MHz) – This is our main 4G coverage band. A device that does not support this will have limited 4G coverage.
Band 3 (1800 MHz)

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#3479342 8-Apr-2026 20:00

I have loads of issues with no data at times on my skinny sim and have done for a long time. There is a thread about it where I called their network trash tier and some people called me out for it. Same devices all fine on 2deg and one, even the Tesla cellular has interruptions on their roaming spark connection.

Just change networks if its not working for you.

Best is when you get no working data but it says you're on 5g, and then when you go into the menu and lock it to 4g its away and working. Seems to be a known thing, yet they persist in selling that level of service.

Richard rich.ms

loceff13

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#3479346 8-Apr-2026 20:19

I didn't get any message from 2D etc about the shutdown and didn't know until I saw none of my calls working/receiving none. Enabled voLTE and thats fine for now until I upgrade my phone.

Linux

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#3479347 8-Apr-2026 20:24

loceff13:

I didn't get any message from 2D etc about the shutdown and didn't know until I saw none of my calls working/receiving none. Enabled voLTE and thats fine for now until I upgrade my phone.

@loceff13 Your phone supported VoLTE so they did not need to contact you - You just had to enable the feature in the settings menu

loceff13

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#3479350 8-Apr-2026 20:32

Linux:

loceff13:

I didn't get any message from 2D etc about the shutdown and didn't know until I saw none of my calls working/receiving none. Enabled voLTE and thats fine for now until I upgrade my phone.

@loceff13 Your phone supported VoLTE so they did not need to contact you - You just had to enable the feature in the settings menu

Only if you knew you had to and how to do so, I didn't know for about 10 days as I didn't need to call anyone and mobile data+texts was working fine lol.

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