What network does PM run on?

[foreverkayla8]

Hello everyone, my mother has a flip phone that she just uses for calls and texts (no data).  I brought her over to PM about a year ago but her phone is acting up.  She does not want a smartphone so I'm trying to find her a new dumb phone.  It seems all the cheap flip phones I'm finding on Amazon run on the 2g network, which I know PM no longer supports.  But my question is this:  Is 3g still supported?  Should I stick with 4g or even 5g?  Not sure if they even make flip phones that work on 4 or 5g.  Thanks in advance!

[Rastin]

You can't forego volte. All provider's are switching to volte so if you get a phone that's not volte it's going to stop working at some point sooner or later.

[hTideGnow]

hi @foreverkayla8 

don't get mix up.  While VoLTE uses data for voice, it does not consume your limited data.  ie, you can have a plan with no data but still can use VoLTE

if you can get a phone that is on PM's VoLTE whitelist, get that so it is future proofed

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

[foreverkayla8]

I convinced her to get a smartphone!  I just ordered a Moto G7 Play.  I decided to forego VoLTE because she does not have a plan with data.  She also has a home phone.  The cell is just for emergencies and radio contests lol!  If by some miracle she ends up getting a data plan and overcomes her stubbornness about using apps, we can reconsider at that time.  However, she will be 70 next year and only her boyfriend and I have her cell number.  It took her years to finally agree to a flip phone, so I don't see that happening any time soon!  Thanks for your help everyone!  

[slusagm]

@foreverkayla8 

you can try to get them unlocked. Call Samsung and ask.   1-800-726-7864

[foreverkayla8]

I have a Samsung S5 Neo and a Samsung Core 2.  Neither were mine so I didn't thinkI would be able to get them unlocked.  (I didn't steal them, they were my stepdad's)

[TheSterlinger]

Ok, time will tell

[hTideGnow · Accepted solution]

hi @foreverkayla8 

ideally yes.  VoLTE is preferred.  

whatever phone you buy, test it with a PM sim card first and make sure you can receive inbound and outbound calls

[hTideGnow]

---

@TheSterlinger wrote:

I read an article recently that says Telus,  owner of Public Mobile will get rid of its 3G in December 2025.

Rogers in July,  Bell October. 

---

HI @TheSterlinger 

that is untrue.  Bell is not getting rid of 3G this year

@sheytoon , who works in the industry already confirmed Bell and Telus will be keeping the 3G 1900 MHz for many more years

https://productioncommunity.publicmobile.ca/t5/Get-Support/3G-Network-Shutdown-in-Canada/m-p/1335538...

[slusagm]

you should get a phone that is capable with VoLTE here

a smartphone would be better for years down the road.  

[TheSterlinger]

what's the model Samsung you have? It has 4G?

You can contact Bell or Rogerss to unlock it.  Its free to do so.

Or contact Samsung  and ask if they can unlock it. You will need the IMEI #   1-800-726-7864

[foreverkayla8]

So basically I shouldn't go lower than 4g.  I'm trying to convince her to get a smartphone but she doesn't want a big one.  I have old smaller Samsung phones that would be perfect but they're locked to Rogers or Bell.  Can we still buy unlock codes?  I used to do that often way back when.  

[TheSterlinger]

I read an article recently that says Telus,  owner of Public Mobile will get rid of its 3G in December 2025.

Rogers in July,  Bell October. 

[hTideGnow]

hi @foreverkayla8 

PM runs on Telus and Bell network.   It still has 3G network and it uses it mainly for voice

But I do not suggest you to randomly buy phones that has 3G only and not on PM's VoLTE whitelist as 3G already phasing out one of the two 3G bands, make 3G voice calls less reliable (although still work mostly)

for a dumb phone, try ZTE Cymbal 2 that is designed for Telus and Bell