3G Switch Off - Samsung Galaxy A20e phone

[NEIL6PG]

Hello.  have today received an email from O2 advising me that "after the 3G switch off  you may experience a drop in call quality and be unable to access call data, including the internet and messaging apps like Whats App". I have checked the Martin Lewis Moneyexpert website and he advises that my Samsung Galaxy A20e phone does support 4G but does not support 4G calling which means that I will still be able to get full internet access, phone calls and text but that phone calls will be of poorer quality as they will be using 2g.

The 02 email gives the overall impression that I will not be able to access the internet and messaging apps and that I will have no alternative but to buy a new 4G or5G phone, Martin Lewis gives the impression that I can continue using my phone and that the only downside will be with phone calls.

I am a very light phone call user making no more than 8 - 10 calls a month so I am not really bothered about call quality although I use the Internet, emails, text and Whats App frequently.

Could anyone clarify the exact technical position please - do I really need to buy a new phone or is is just O2 marketing trying to persuade me to get one?

Thankyou.

Neil Scarlett

[madasaf1sh]

@NEIL6PG 

o2 are sending these emails to anyone who was in the Durham area, and has connected to 3G. 
The S20e does indeed support 4G so you will get those speeds as you do now, but you are correct it doesnt support 4G calling and if you are on PAYG you wouldnt get support for it even if it was. 

I would just ignore the email from o2

[jonsie]

If you are on contract that model supports 4G calling which has to be enabled by O2

Unfortunately no support for PAYG at the moment

[Enlli]

Are you Contract or PAYG. If the latter then it is all academic as PAYG does not yet support 4G calling.

There are indicators that the phone does support 4G Calling (VoLTE)

Try the following 

• How to enable VoLTE on the Galaxy A20e:

  1. Open the Settings app. 
  2. Tap on Connections. 
  3. Tap on Mobile Networks. 
  4. Toggle the switch next to "VoLTE Calls" to the on position. 

[MI5]

@NEIL6PG 

Don't fall for it.

Your internet will still work fine.

O2 help pages for the A20e https://www.o2.co.uk/help/phones-sims-and-devices/samsung/galaxy-a20e-android-9-0/basic-settings/i-c...

[Enlli]

@madasaf1sh Got my email today

Durham is a long way from Liverpool 

Just wonder if we will be in the next tranche 

[MI5]

Had mine last week and I'm 200 miles from Durham.

Not been there for 10 years either!

[madasaf1sh]

The original plan was for o2 to only contact customers who had used 3G in Durham..   So obviously that changed...

And Liverpool is the wrong side of the Pennines for me  

I haven't had any emails about the 3G shutdown, although to be honest not had the email about the price increases either...

[jonsie]

Liverpool is the wrong side of the River Irwell......

[pgn]

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@jonsie wrote:

Liverpool is the wrong side of the River Irwell......

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Irwell, irwell - 3G switch-off gathering pace, it seems... everyone everywhere all at once next!