Latest news with #4G5G
The Sun
18-07-2025
- Business
- The Sun
UK's biggest mobile provider is shutting MORE services in just days leaving thousands of Brits without a working phone
BRITAIN'S biggest mobile provider will be shutting down more of its major services within days. Customers are urged to take note, as the change could leave many Brits without internet on their phones. 2 2 Virgin Media O2 is the latest provider to shut off its 3G services - with several areas across the country already affected. Other major providers including EE, Vodafone and Three have switched off their 3G already. Virgin Media O2 says the move will allow the company to focus on offering "faster, more reliable and more energy-efficient" 4G and 5G. Torquay's 3G network is the latest to face an upcoming switch off, which is scheduled for August 4. This will also affect Giffgaff, Sky Mobile and Tesco Mobile customers as they use Virgin Media O2's network. WHICH DEVICES ARE AFFECTED? Customers are advised to switch to a device that can support 4G or 5G before the changes take place. Anyone with a phone that only supports 3G will not have access to mobile data once the service is shut off. However, they will still be able to make calls, send texts and access WiFi. But the telecoms giant says the "vast majority" of its customers already have 4G and 5G compatible devices - meaning they will be unaffected by the change. Virgin Media O2's 3G switch off started Durham on April 2. The changes have continued through the summer, with services ending in Norwich, Telford and Guildford on July 16. The rest of the country's 3G is expected to be cut off by the end of the year. SUPPORT FOR CUSTOMERS Virgin Media O2's Chief Technology Officer Jeanie York said: "We're switching off our 3G network to focus our attention and investment on upgrading faster and more reliable 4G and 5G networks that will give our customers a better overall experience. "Following the successful pilot in Durham earlier this year, we will be switching off 3G in Norwich, Telford and Guildford in July, and Torquay in early August, with the rest of the UK to follow by the end of the year." York added: "While we know that the vast majority of our customers already have a 4G or 5G device and will not have to take any action, our priority is to provide support to those who need it. "That is why we are reaching out directly to customers who do not have a 4G or 5G handset, and calling those we know are vulnerable, to provide information about their next steps. "It is important these customers upgrade their handsets in order to continue using mobile data after 3G is switched off." Which mobile networks are affected by the 3G switch off? Mobile networks affected by O2's 3G switch off: -O2 - Tesco Mobile - Sky Mobile - GiffGaff Networks which have already switched off 3G: - Vodafone - Asda Mobile - Lebara - Talk Mobile - Voxi - EE - 1pMobile - Ecotalk - IQ Mobile - Lycamobile - Mozillion - RWG Mobile - Spusi - Talk Home - Utility Warehouse - Your Co-op - Three - iD Mobile, Smarty - Honest Mobile - Superdrug
BBC News
10-07-2025
- Business
- BBC News
Mobile coverage: More of the Tube network gets 5G and 4G
Mobile phone coverage has been expanded along more of the London Underground system, Transport for London (TfL) has announced. Further sections of the Northern line and Victoria line have access to 4G and said more stations and tunnels are to go live in coming months, including King's Cross St Pancras, Green Park and more of the Victoria mayor of London originally promised passengers would have full mobile coverage across the network by 2024, but that was pushed back until at least 2026. TfL said coverage has now been expanded along the Northern line including the tunnelled section between Balham and South Wimbledon, as well as Kennington, Oval, Tooting Broadway and South Wimbledon in south London travelling along the Northern line from South Wimbledon to Stockwell now have continuous coverage. TfL said work is also underway to extend coverage in the tunnels down to Morden and up to Kennington by the end of the summer. The Bank branch of the Northern line between Euston and Bank is also receiving coverage for the first the Victoria line, coverage is being rolled out between Vauxhall and Pimlico. The Jubilee line's coverage is to be extended next, starting at Swiss Cottage and linking with existing coverage at interchange stations such as Green Park and King's Cross St Pancras, as well as further sections of the Victoria line from Green Park to Brixton, will also start to get high-speed mobile coverage for the first time in the next phase of work.
