3G shutdown: check your phones

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88 posts

Master Geek
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#3472696 23-Mar-2026 16:44

hio77:

boosacnoodle:

The important question - has 4G reception and speeds now improved?

wait for devices to start camping on B8 rather than B28 and drop in speed instead! Not many devices support B8 + B28 CA..

One and 2degrees have already used b8 for years now... Hasn't been a problem yet, usually if anything it sits on b8 at idle and then moves to another band when traffic ramps up (or data is enabled).

Spark has already been using 10mhz of n5 for ahes now which is functionally hopeless compared to their b28 in CA, hopefully they add the extra MHz from 3g shutdown next week to it ASAP

aw

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Ultimate Geek
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#3472701 23-Mar-2026 17:00

tangerz:

aw:

This soon?
Given my dumbphone can still text, I get the impression only the calling profiles have been killed off on OneNZ in Auckland, not the actual radios yet.

Sorry, no. 3G has been switched off, that is how your phone was making calls. 3G didn't require profiles to work, just the correct frequency bands and standard, (GSM or CDMA). Your phone simply doesn't have the required VoLTE profiles for calls to work in a 4G/5G only world.

Ah ok. Interesting, what path do SMSes take to still get through with no 3G (and I presume also no 2G) on the network and no VoLTE on the phone?

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#3472702 23-Mar-2026 17:19

@ajw They go over 4G

Behodar

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#3472752 23-Mar-2026 17:38

I may be mistaken, but I believe VoLTE is only for voice. A quick poke on the web reveals that SMS might go over something called "non-access-stratum" but don't quote me on that one!

tangerz

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Ultimate Geek
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#3472847 23-Mar-2026 17:52

Linux:

@ajw They go over 4G

So are they sent over the 4G data connection? Or is it some other system within 4G?

boosacnoodle

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#3472852 23-Mar-2026 18:02

MaxineN:

Interesting... Unsure what this would actually do or why...

With hundreds and thousands of devices on the network and all of the metrics in the world.. they would already know what needs tuning and where it's missing. They would already have the numbers.

How would you get metrics on... areas where you have no service? Not physically possible Makes sense to track it then have it report back later once you are in a service area via. an app.

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MaxineN

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#3472853 23-Mar-2026 18:04

boosacnoodle:

MaxineN:

Interesting... Unsure what this would actually do or why...

With hundreds and thousands of devices on the network and all of the metrics in the world.. they would already know what needs tuning and where it's missing. They would already have the numbers.

How would you get metrics on... areas where you have no service? Not physically possible Makes sense to track it then have it report back later once you are in a service area via. an app.

Without revealing commercially sensitive information. We (the telcos) know. We have the tools.

Trust me ;)

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Buckchoi

119 posts

Master Geek
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#3472854 23-Mar-2026 18:05

aw:

Damn. I recently got a Nokia 2720 Flip when deciding to go down the dumbphone route expliticly because it was 4G, supposedly supported VoLTE and could hotspot (and maybe Nokia for nostalgia), but nope calls stopped working on this one too this morning.

Curiously, SMS still works for now. both sending and receiving. Data is fine.

It's got an explicit place to set an IMS APN under Settings > Mobile network and Data > APN Settings - SIM1 > IMS settings but I'm having no luck repeating the normal Kogan or OneNZ (VFNZ) data APN info here.
Attempts to find explicit IMS APN settings for VFNZ/Kogan or extract the IMS APN from a working rooted Android phone (with another Kogan SIM in that) have come to nothing so far.

Anyone else using a KaiOS phone who's had better luck?

The IMS APN details are here.

boosacnoodle

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#3472857 23-Mar-2026 18:18

MaxineN:

Without revealing commercially sensitive information. We (the telcos) know. We have the tools.

Trust me ;)

I'm well aware of what the carriers can see, being ex-the red circle myself. And it makes sense that they could approximate your position from the TAC/eNB/PCI, etc., and then observe when you dropped off the network, but that would surely never be as precise as taking it from an app on the UE directly, surely.

MaxineN

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#3472864 23-Mar-2026 18:29

boosacnoodle:

MaxineN:

Without revealing commercially sensitive information. We (the telcos) know. We have the tools.

Trust me ;)

I'm well aware of what the carriers can see, being ex-the red circle myself. And it makes sense that they could approximate your position from the TAC/eNB/PCI, etc., and then observe when you dropped off the network, but that would surely never be as precise as taking it from an app on the UE directly, surely.

Ask yourself this.

If we have maps, all of the metrics in the world, complaints and direct feedback from already existing processes... Do we really need more precision?

The only value One NZ would get out of this is mapping out RCG coverage more easily. Even then that's a stretch considering the existing process. We even have https://onepin.one.nz/

As an ex red and green hat... I'm not seeing the value or the purpose and to me it's poorly explained... Considering what I know which gives me a huge advantage and I'm sure you have a huge advantage compared to a customer.

Not saying I disagree wholeheartedly... I'm just pointing out the lack of value and how much of an ask it is, even if it's opt in.

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boosacnoodle

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#3472901 23-Mar-2026 21:50

What's the harm? If you frequent black spots, it can only be a win. I will absolutely give One credit for their pin dropper. I've probably only used it maybe 3 or 4 times. Each pin resulted in the construction of a tower in that approximate location in pretty short order. Why the others are not offering this, I really don't know.

I'll need to do some more cell mapping to see if they've already made any changes locally.

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pcman2000

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Master Geek
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#3472902 23-Mar-2026 21:57

Behodar:

I may be mistaken, but I believe VoLTE is only for voice. A quick poke on the web reveals that SMS might go over something called "non-access-stratum" but don't quote me on that one!

SMS can go over IMS (VoLTE is part of IMS) or NAS. SMS over IMS would be required to deliver SMS when connected to wifi calling and disconnected from the mobile network.

As for b28 + b8, I recall I was unable to get this to work on a device with support on 2degrees, I suspect 2degrees is missing the CA relations between b28 to/from b8 on their end.

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pengo

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#3472924 23-Mar-2026 23:42

pengo:

As of today my Unihertz Jelly Star running LineageOS 20 is unable to make calls. Text messages and mobile data still work.

I've contacted Unihertz to get a definitive answer on compatibility (ie, can the Jelly Star make 4G VoLTE emergency calls in Aotearoa New Zealand).

The reply from Unihertz was prompt, but it seems I'll need to do my own research ...

Except Jelly Pro, all our other phones support Wi-Fi calling and VoLTE, but the operator/carrier may have restrictions, this need to live network test to know the accurate result. If your carrier supports the 4G bands listed, there should be no issue with network compatibility.

Jelly Star Bands: 2G GSM: Bands 2/3/5/8, 3G WCDMA: Bands 1/2/4/5/6/8/19, 3G CDMA2000: Bands BC0/BC1, 4G FDD-LTE: Bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/20/25/26/28A/28B/66, 4G TDD-LTE: Bands 34/38/39/40/41

muppet

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#3472971 24-Mar-2026 09:38

@pengo If you're running Lingeage isn't it going to be what they support??

I'm (pretty sure) my Unihertz Jelly 2 still makes Voice calls on 2D just fine - I will test it when I get home. Running the standard Unihertz FW though.

pengo

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#3472982 24-Mar-2026 09:54

pengo:

The reply from Unihertz was prompt, but it seems I'll need to do my own research ...

Except Jelly Pro, all our other phones support Wi-Fi calling and VoLTE, but the operator/carrier may have restrictions, this need to live network test to know the accurate result. If your carrier supports the 4G bands listed, there should be no issue with network compatibility.

Jelly Star Bands: 2G GSM: Bands 2/3/5/8, 3G WCDMA: Bands 1/2/4/5/6/8/19, 3G CDMA2000: Bands BC0/BC1, 4G FDD-LTE: Bands 1/2/3/4/5/7/8/12/13/17/18/19/20/25/26/28A/28B/66, 4G TDD-LTE: Bands 34/38/39/40/41

OK. This morning I wanted to check what people would hear when they attempted to phone my inaccessible phone number (a message? a beep? nothing?). When Richard called, my phone rang and we were able to converse without issue. I then phoned him back and the process worked in reverse. Yesterday when I phoned him, the call simply timed out. I don't believe I've changed anything.

So ... God, I don't know. But my Unihertz Jelly Star now appears to work on 4G VoLTE. For others whose phones initially failed after the 3G was turned off; perhaps try again? Who knows?

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