3G SWITCH OFF

[Jeffers613]

I have a Galaxy Tablet TAB A 10.5 LTE which was first released in August 2018.

My line provider, Smarty ,has advised me that they are switching off 3G during September  and that my tablet may not work after the switch-off.

in my tablet - Mobile Networks (under Settings) says "LTE/3G/2G auto connect"

Will my device work after the switch-off?

If it won't, is it possible to upgrade/update my tablet to 4G or even 5G?

I am very happy with my tablet and (in my 80's) can't face the hassle of buying a new device and then transferring all of my contacts, photos, apps etc to a new tablet!

[Piper123]

Hi there

Your tablet will continue to work on 4g (aka LTE) and 2g (extremely slow for data so wouldn't use 2g for that).

You need to make sure your Smarty Sim is 4g enabled (it probably is but just check).

Your network setting above (LTE/3g/2g) is fine. Note Smarty / Three doesn't have 2g network anyway.

[ynneL]

If your tablet is currently working fine with 4G, then the 3G switch off won't really affect you

[Jeffers613]

---

Thanks.
Piper123 - how do I check that my Smarty  SIM is 4G enabled?

ynneL - how do I know that my tablet is currently running on 4G ie LTE rather than on 3G?

[Jeffers613]

Also, looking on Google, there does seem to be some difference between 4G and LTE although, Piper 123, you imply they are identical. I don't understand what the difference is. 

If my SIM is 4G enabled, will it work on LTE?

[arianwen27]

Yes, 4g and LTE are the exact same thing

[Jeffers613]

Thanks to all.

I have since had extensive webchats with Samsung and with Smarty. Summarising:

Samsung say that in some of their models 4G will show as LTE, which means that if  'LTE/3G/2G auto connect' is selected (which is the case),  I will continue to receive 4G (if available in my area) provided my SIM card also supports 4G.

Smarty has confirmed that my SIM card covers 4G and 5G.

However, I am getting a different reply re my device from Smarty!

Smarty are telling me that, as my tablet isn't compatible with VoLTE, some services, like making calls, won't be available to me after they switch off 3G in September. They say that in order to continue to receive ALL of their services I need to upgrade to a device that supports 4G VoLTE

So, if Samsung is correct, I will continue to get 4G  and all services after 3G is switched off and I don't need to change my device.

But if Smarty is correct, I do need to buy a new device which supports 4GVoLTE.

So who is correct?

I much prefer keeping my existing device  - Samsung say this will be ok but Smarty say I need a new device!

All very confusing for an octogenarian!

In addition, following further reading, there seems to be a 'batting order' for the latest technology ie 

4GLTE is an improvement on 4G; 5G is better than 4G. I'm not sure where 4GVoLTE sits within this 'batting order'. Perhaps someone could explain?!

[Jeffers613]

Can anyone help me on my 08.06 post today?

[arianwen27]

So. 4g is a data connection protocol. Just like 3g and 2g. This is how your phone has data connections.

Phone calls don't use these, phone calls are sorta analogue and use a different system to work. 2g and 3g have a second system to handle phone calls. 4g dropped this analogue system so phone calls are now more of a discord or Skype call and less of a traditional analogue call system. Aka, it uses the internet/data to make the call work. This system is called VoLTE.

Quick sum up, 2g and 3g have a data side and an analogue phone call side. 4g only has a data side, so phone calls must go over data.

Cell carriers took a long time to switch over to the new system so phone calls would swap you to 3g to use the 3g analogue call system. Your carrier is disabling this system and will only support the 4g calling system. This is called VoLTE (LTE means 4g, so voice over the 4g data connection). Some devices support the normal 4g data system but don't support phone calls over 4g.

So a device that doesn't support VoLTE means 4g data will work but phone calls will no longer work. I tried my best to make this easy to understand but it really is complicated. If you don't take phone calls on your tablet, you should be fine to carry on as usual

[Jeffers613]

Many thanks. My apologies for the delay in responding.

Smarty has confirmed that all of their SIM cards are enabled for VoLTE. My son put my SIM into his phone and it worked fine.

The problem is that Samsung keep on telling me that my TAB A is enabled for VoLTE.

Under 'Connections' it shows 'LTE/3G/2G auto connect'.

Samsung say that 'LTE' is IDENTICAL to '4G' ie it's just an alternative name - so, they then say that as I have 4G this means I automatically also have VoLTE.

You are saying that 4G is a data service only, so it must mean that Samsung have NOT activated VoLTE on my device.

If that is so, why are they telling me an outright fib?!

I have been speaking to Samsung engineers  - not simply to the support staff who man the web chatline.

Assuming that my tablet doesn't have VoLTE , is there any way it can be upgraded so it can take VoLTE? Or must I buy a new tablet? I need a traditional phone call feature on my tablet and can't always rely on Wifi.