Without reading the entire thread again, did you purchase your phone from Skinny?

It's an iPhone so I don't think the place of purchase matters, but it would've been directly from Apple.

As part of the 3G Shutdown, the short call code *888# for Skinny mobile customers will be closed from 31 March 2026.

https://www.skinny.co.nz/help/mobile-help/general/general/short-codes-closing-down/

Thanks. Completely missed that.

Appears that the carriers could support USSD over IMS, but have likely elected not to due to low use. I’d say most customers have a smartphone that can take apps, so it’s likely not worth the investment. 

I actually just got a text message about it.

"Heads up - our *888# service is ending on 31 March 2026 with the 3G network shutdown. You can still top up and manage your account easily on the Skinny App, website, or with a top-up card by text. Just pick the option the [sic] works best for you."

I wonder whether everyone got it, or just people who have used it recently.

Sparks 3g shutdown website has the following message now:

"Our 3G network will no longer be available from 12:01am on Tuesday, 31 March 2026"

12:01am is pretty precise haha

All done in software, I'd imagine. I think One NZ already shuts down some of their network on a schedule to save on energy consumption.

Can somebody confirm that 2G and 3G service has definitely been turned off in Auckland for OneNZ? Checked their website and it indicated switch off for Auckland was completed on 10 March.

Asking as my alarm panel is still sending me Armed/Disarmed SMS messages. I have a Paradox system with a PCS250 communication module using a OneNZ sim card. I thought this module was operating on the 2G network, as I did originally have a Warehouse Mobile sim card in it but it stopped working back in 2018 when Warehouse Mobile/2Degrees switched off 2G. Troubleshooting at that time showed another Warehouse Mobile card also didn't work but a Vodafone sim card worked so switched over.

Was fully expecting to no longer get any SMS messages from my alarm from last week, so surprised it is still working.

I'm in the Glendene/Kelston area of Auckland. 

I believe 2G calling gets turned off next week. I would imagine that SMS goes over the calling network, as I'm pretty sure it was available years before data connections came along.

Behodar:

 

I believe 2G calling gets turned off next week. I would imagine that SMS goes over the calling network, as I'm pretty sure it was available years before data connections came along.

Thanks. Just rechecked the OneNZ 3G shutdown web page and you are correct. Only 2G data was switched off. 2G calling shut-off is 23 March. I had misread their information. 

Will be interesting to see what the lack of networks does for battery life on my old phone I still use for calling/SMS 2 factor, as it only does 2g/3g for the secondary sim, so will be constantly hunting for a network.

Will have to see if there is a way to automate flipping the "data" sim over between the 2 of them so that they both get a chance to register on the network and get SMSs when idle.

Could just disable the other SIM and only have one enabled at a time -- and switch between the two by flipping both on/off.

kiwiharry:

 

Behodar:

 

I believe 2G calling gets turned off next week. I would imagine that SMS goes over the calling network, as I'm pretty sure it was available years before data connections came along.

 

Thanks. Just rechecked the OneNZ 3G shutdown web page and you are correct. Only 2G data was switched off. 2G calling shut-off is 23 March. I had misread their information. 

 

The dates had changed a couple of time to be fair so maybe you were working off one of the older version of their switch off info.

My alarm panel's 2G / 3G comms module has said bye-bye to One's 2G and 3G network as of about 7:30am this morning, with no signal or connection available from that time.

Their website https://one.nz/3g-shutdown/ says the same.

Thanks for the service all these years ;-)