Public Mobile network upgrading. Concern.

[PW411]

We received a message that Public Mobile is upgrading its network that will degrade or lost connection to the existing loyal customers unless we change our phones? Please explain in more  detail, why we will loss the connection with our present phone unless we change our phones with those offered by Public Mobile? Thank you. 

[PW411]

Thank you for your response. My phones are still working now. They are Samsung A03a, Huawei P30 Lite and Huawei Mate 20 pro. 

[sheytoon · Accepted solution]

I wouldn't worry about that message.

One of the 3G frequencies (850 MHz) is being moved to 4G in some markets. You can continue to use the other 3G frequency (1900 MHz) which could have less coverage, depending on your proximity to a tower. In practice, most people won't notice any difference in service, especially in urban and suburban areas.

[colleeno]

Public Mobile does not sell phones so the message has nothing to do with them selling you a phone; it has to do with upgrading its network. This message has been sent to many subscribers and seems to have targeted their customers who have older phones. As others have indicated, your phone might still work after the upgrade depending on the band your phone uses but the 3G network will eventually be gone everywhere in Canada (like it is now in the U.S.). A specific end date for 3G in Canada has not been announced. When it does happen, 3G or 4G phones without VoLTE capability will not work for voice calls anywhere in Canada no matter who your provider is. (Rogers is shutting down their 3G network at the end of July 2025 and Eastlink shut down their 3G network in 2020.)

[Sansan]

This list is at least 2 years old and many new phones have been released since then. But if your phone is not of these or newer,  you could be affected. 

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/bc/get-help/articles/volte

If your phone is 3g band 1900 you will be fine ( for now). I belive it's the 3g 850 band listed that are affected. 

[Chalupa_Batman]

Hello @PW411 

They are upgrading their infrastructure to remove the 3G in the near future. Even if your phone has 4G LTE, it still may not work after their working on the network. It has to be a whitelisted approved VoLTE phone. Here's a list.

https://www.publicmobile.ca/en/get-help/articles/volte