Volte after 3G netwrok shutdown

[T250cc1]

Hi, will Telus allow non-whitelist devices to receive Volte after 3G network is shut down. I've read Rogers is shutting down the 3G network in March 2025. So far, I have not seen any announcement as to when Telus and Bell will initiate 3G shutdown. Do I have to start looking for a new phone?

[Phil_Adelphus]

@sheytoon  

are you asking about Bell or Telus customers roaming on Rogers?

That's pretty much what I was thinking, yes.  Although what triggered the thought was the reverse, that when I had a phone on Rogers it would almost always show Rogers EXT when I was in the local Walmart, and data wouldn't work (I now know that it needed roaming to be turned on for that) .  So it was obviously using another carrier when the Rogers signal was too weak in the building. 

If VoLTE isn't supported, voice calls won't work.That's what I was thinking but there isn't a clear dividing line between what is VoLTE capable and what is Public Mobile approved VoLTE for example.  Rogers has an online tool to check your device, my old Android comes up on there as VoLTE approved if postpaid, but not guaranteed if prepaid but that would presumably only apply to Rogers' own customers.  So would a VoLTE capable but not PM VoLTE approved device still be able to use extended service on Rogers when their 3G shuts down?

Do you know if domestic roaming works on 3G today? It's not something I've tested, so I'm just wondering.

I have no idea, perhaps it is area dependent?

[sheytoon]

@DennyCrane good point, roaming on Rogers is a lot more applicable to regional operators than it is to Bell and Telus.

[DennyCrane]

@sheytoon I thought Freedom and maybe some fringe/regional carriers had domestic roaming agreements (I'm not talking about the Belus alliance), but that's it? Aside from a couple areas (one small area on Vancouver Island comes to mind), I didn't think Telus customers could roam on Rogers?

[sheytoon]

@Phil_Adelphus are you asking about Bell or Telus customers roaming on Rogers?

If VoLTE isn't supported, voice calls won't work. 

Do you know if domestic roaming works on 3G today? It's not something I've tested, so I'm just wondering.

[T250cc1]

My Oneplus 8T also was receiving Volte as far back as March 18 2024. Now, I'm downgraded to 3G (H+) . I've talked to Oneplus, they told me to reset my phone and rest network settings. I've never done such procedures. I don't want lose my text messages and other saved items on the phone. I don't know what would reset my phone do unless it is deleting the various software upgrades that Oneplus has installed since March 18

[Phil_Adelphus]

@sheytoon   Something I've wondered about, might be a dumb question, once Rogers has shut down their 3G what happens to Rogers EXT as far as other carriers' customers are concerned?  Presumably they won't be able to utilize extended network service if they don't have a phone that is accepted for VoLTE by Rogers?   

[sheytoon]

That's very encouraging. I imagine 3rd party phones never restricted VoLTE on PM. But some big name phones sold by Telus, like iPhone and Samsung would've had restrictions on VoLTE for the different Telus sub-brands. I think some of those may never be able to use VoLTE on PM. For example iPhone 6 or Galaxy S7.

[will13am]

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@sheytoon wrote:

Rogers has announced end of July 2025 for 3G shut down. Bell and Telus haven't announced anything yet, but the earliest date in my opinion would be 2027.

Telus is removing the whitelist, but it doesn't mean firmware will be updated on older phones to allow VoLTE on PM SIM cards. Some people will need to get new phones.

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I sense that most relatively newish devices having VoLTE capability will be compatible.  I was using a umidigi A13 pro around the time Public Mobile rolled out VoLTE and it worked fine for about 2 months.  The whitelist blocked access until recently when I got VoLTE back.  The A13 pro is about 3 years old running android 12 and also has 5G capability on this service.  iPhones dating back to 6 had VoLTE capability and this phone was released in 2014.  My niece is using an iPhone 7 which recently picked up VoLTE functionality thanks to the whitelist being removed.  I am thinking the greatest barrier to VoLTE is the whitelist.  

[Phil_Adelphus]

@sheytoon   Rogers were originally saying March 2025 on their website, now it's as you say, July.  I wasn't aware it had changed, thanks for posting that.

[sheytoon]

Rogers has announced end of July 2025 for 3G shut down. Bell and Telus haven't announced anything yet, but the earliest date in my opinion would be 2027.

Telus is removing the whitelist, but it doesn't mean firmware will be updated on older phones to allow VoLTE on PM SIM cards. Some people will need to get new phones.

[DennyCrane]

You'd think so, otherwise one would expect to hear more complaints from Telus customers going to the US. Though it doesn't make logical sense if you have everything configured on the network already, to then restrict devices on another brand.

[Phil_Adelphus]

@DennyCrane   I would imagine that Telus (Koodo is doing it too) have a larger whitelist for VoLTE than Public Mobile? 

[DennyCrane]

Thanks for sharing that. I wasn't aware Telus was charging a 3G premium.

[Phil_Adelphus]

@T250cc1   There was an apparently unsubstantiated rumour that Telus and Bell would shut down 3G at the end of 2025 but some in the know think that it will be much later than that.  A non-whitelist phone on PM already will not work in the USA where all phones have to be VoLTE.  It did seem recently that PM had allowed VoLTE on more phones than the whitelist but we are still getting questions on here from people in the US who were unaware of the VoLTE approval requirement for their phones to work when roaming so it certainly doesn't seem universal.  Telus (and Koodo I think) are already charging certain customers extra if they don't have a VoLTE phone in order to encourage them to  update their device, see

https://www.telus.com/en/support/article/3g-usage-price-increase 

[hTideGnow]

HI @T250cc1 

Telus and Bell won't have the 3G shutdown at least for another 2 years, according to someone who works in Telus.  

So your phone without VoLTE will continue to work on 3G here with Public Mobile (as well as with Telus and Bell), no rush for a new phone, just keep any eye and change when you see good deals