In New Zealand, 3G network shut down by the end of March 2025

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216 posts

Master Geek

#3290404 3-Oct-2024 10:44

nztim:

VoLTE requires a whole heap of settings programmed into the phone to work (for example the carriers call server/voice protocols/etc) worldwide carrier profiles are all programmed into any iPhone 6s and newer along with almost every 4G frequency, and, with the 12 and above almost every 5G frequency

It is the Multiple manufacturers of android phones who have decided to cherry pick which profiles they have decided to put into various models of phone, and that is no fault of the carriers who have made this information available to phone manufacturers.

Visitors to NZ with iPhones that are 6s or newer will have no problem connect to the networks here, those with Androids will be hit and miss

AT&T in the USA have led the way here, by putting together a full-scale PDF of the various phone models (and sub models) which manufacturers have decided to include their VoLTE profile

https://www.att.com/scmsassets/support/wireless/devices-working-on-att-network.pdf

Any reason they couldn't have designed it so that the VoLTE profiles get pulled down over the cellular network? Having to have the profiles baked into the firmware/OS seems rather dumb, and the outcome rather foreseeable.

wellygary

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Uber Geek

#3290406 3-Oct-2024 10:46

"Any thoughts about New Zealand shut down of the 3G network?"

VOLTE compatibility in NZ is not a future 3G shutdown issue its happened already

But, given that many of the 500 new RCG sites ( which are VOLTE voice only) are in hig tourist areas If this was going to be a significant problem it would have likely already started to bubble up publicly ,

https://www.thercg.co.nz/

richms

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#3290414 3-Oct-2024 11:19

Its also a problem when you are in a recently equipped building like costco. No 3g in there at all, excellent LTE. Try to make a call on an older phone and it will try to find 3g and get some whiff of a signal and either not work at all or get a useless connection.

Australia are doing a really stupid thing and cutting off any device that cant do volte from what I saw, so even if you don't give a crap about calling on your portable email and facebook machine, it will get no data connection because it cant do a legacy service. Thats reall what the actual thinking from them there.

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nztim

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#3290417 3-Oct-2024 11:28

Aaron2222:

Any reason they couldn't have designed it so that the VoLTE profiles get pulled down over the cellular network? Having to have the profiles baked into the firmware/OS seems rather dumb, and the outcome rather foreseeable.

It is a bit late to go back and re-design that protocol now

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

ajw

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#3290419 3-Oct-2024 11:29

@richms

Is this on all three mobile networks.

openmedia

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#3290421 3-Oct-2024 11:34

nztim:

Unless you have an iPhone or an Android with NZ VoLTE support then you are SOL

Times have moved on from phones globally being able to work around the world

Which is utterly stupid. So much for network compatibility

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.

nztim

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#3290424 3-Oct-2024 11:48

openmedia:

nztim:

Unless you have an iPhone or an Android with NZ VoLTE support then you are SOL

Times have moved on from phones globally being able to work around the world

Which is utterly stupid. So much for network compatibility

You can only blame is the manufacturer of Android Phones who, have by choice, decided not to put all the worldwide VoLTE profiles into their phones, carriers make this information available to them.

Apple have made the choice to include them all, on any iPhone 6s and newer, and keep them up to date with software updates

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

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Aaron2222

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Master Geek

#3290426 3-Oct-2024 11:55

nztim:

Aaron2222:

Any reason they couldn't have designed it so that the VoLTE profiles get pulled down over the cellular network? Having to have the profiles baked into the firmware/OS seems rather dumb, and the outcome rather foreseeable.

It is a bit late to go back and re-design that protocol now

Well, other than that (I used past tense for a reason).

old3eyes

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#3290430 3-Oct-2024 12:00

nztim:

You can only blame is the manufacturer of Android Phones who, have by choice, decided not to put all the worldwide VoLTE profiles into their phones, carriers make this information available to them.

Apple have made the choice to include them all, on any iPhone 6s and newer, and keep them up to date with software updates

Apple only makes one brand of phone where as there are dozens of Android brands and makes.

Regards,

Old3eyes

nztim

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#3290431 3-Oct-2024 12:02

old3eyes:

Apple only makes one brand of phone where as there are dozens of Android brands and makes.

Correct but each of those companies could quite easily get the VoLTE profile information from the carriers, but choose not to, so again, it's on them

Any views expressed on these forums are my own and don't necessarily reflect those of my employer.

ajw

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#3290432 3-Oct-2024 12:05

@nztim

And does the problem strike again on 5G voice when they switch to 5G SA.

KiwiSurfer

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#3290433 3-Oct-2024 12:22

richms:

Its also a problem when you are in a recently equipped building like costco. No 3g in there at all, excellent LTE. Try to make a call on an older phone and it will try to find 3g and get some whiff of a signal and either not work at all or get a useless connection.

Costco has their own OneNZ in-building site so LTE phones on One attach to that.

2degrees site is quite close though so I'd be surprised if UMTS doesn't work inside Costco.

KiwiSurfer

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#3290435 3-Oct-2024 12:32

In positive news:-

I for one am looking forward to 3G going away. LTE is so much better than UMTS it's not funny -- I've seen LTE just work in places UMTS just gives up trying, and that's despite LTE historically being tuned to avoid bettering UMTS.

I was in the far north recently with 2 different Samsung phones on the same network (OneNZ) -- one had LTE 99% service of the time very rarely dropping to UMTS. The second phone, interestingly as it was the same brand (but different model) on same network, kept dropping down to UMTS very frequently even in places with good LTE service. Goes to show that just because you see 3G/UMTS on your phone doesn't mean you'll lose service come 3G switch off. Most likely there is already a good LTE service that certain phones for whatever reason choose not to use. The removal of UMTS will finally mean phones have no choice but to stay on the superior LTE service that is already in place.

I also traveled though many areas with RCG LTE-only sites -- many small towns etc have excellent LTE coverage from all 3 carriers thank to RCG.

Bring on the demise of UMTS I say.

geoffwnz

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#3290437 3-Oct-2024 12:35

I got an email a little while ago from One NZ saying "we've noticed your phone isn't using our 4G network in the best way possible".

Followed the steps on both phones and they are both correctly set up.

However, the two SMS alarm modules in my vehicles probably are not. So does that mean that when they shut down 3G, I will no longer be able to get text messages if something happens to my vehicles?

Or does this only affect calls, which I can currently make to the systems to test them.

MotorDrive Rallying

Technofreak

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#3290442 3-Oct-2024 12:46

nztim:

You can only blame is the manufacturer of Android Phones who, have by choice, decided not to put all the worldwide VoLTE profiles into their phones, carriers make this information available to them.

Apple have made the choice to include them all, on any iPhone 6s and newer, and keep them up to date with software updates

I'd suggest one big reason is a lot of Android phones sell at a price point well below an iPhone. At that price point it's most likely not viable to put the hardware and memory needed to support worldwide profiles as Apple does for their phones.

It's more about economic reality rather than out right choice.

That said, it's a pretty stuffed up system where new technology takes us back 20 years in functionality. It's certainly not end user focused.

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