topic Re: 2G and old SIM cards and 2G switch off? in Pay as you go

2G and old SIM cards and 2G switch off?

EEless — Wed, 29 May 2024 15:41:56 GMT

Not sure how old my EE SIM card is, must be at least five years.

Anyhow, 3G is of course no longer accessible so I'm using 2G on my old flip phone, this is fine for my limited use which is just the very occasional phone call or text.

However, I've recently had a text from EE stating that as haven't made a chargeable call for six months my balance will vanish and, eventually, my phone number. So today I made a couple of chargeable calls.

I did decide to query this with EE and was told that the message was in error and was related to the 2G/3G switch off, I was told that both 2G and 3G were being switched off in my area on the 11th of June.

This seems rather incorrect to me as 3G was switched off not that long ago and 2G remains operational - looking online 2G will supposedly be switched off later this decade.

However, is it possible that there's a potential issue with my old SIM card? Might it be that the old SIM card will stop working with 2G on the 11th of June 2024?

I should note that I use PAYG and top up as required.

Re: 2G and old SIM cards and 2G switch off?

bristolian — Wed, 29 May 2024 16:01:35 GMT

The 3G switch-off was complete in January 2024 and is entirely separate from the text you received, which relates to PAYG hibernation.

There are long-term plans for 2G switch-off, but EE are continuing to install new 2G equipment, anyone who tells you otherwise is misinformed.

Re: 2G and old SIM cards and 2G switch off?

EEless — Wed, 29 May 2024 16:08:12 GMT

Thanks bristolian.

So as my SIM card is currently working just fine (it also has a balance of a few pounds) there is then no reason why it should stop working on 11th of June or any other time (until 2G is finally switched off at some unspecified date)?

Re: 2G and old SIM cards and 2G switch off?

XRaySpeX — Wed, 29 May 2024 16:23:07 GMT

@EEless : That msg has nowt to do with any 'G' switch-off. It's cuz you haven't used your PAYG SIM for so long.

Sounds like your PAYG SIM has gone into hibernation.

When did you previously make a chargeable action? EE PAYG SIMs are deactivated after 6 months of non-chargeable use. You then have a further 3 months period of grace to call EE to reactivate it before it is lost completely.

You needed to make a chargeable action like making a chargeable call or text, topping up or buying a Pack or Add-on, not just using your mins, texts or data from your pack.