This summer, those traveling abroad are advised to check not only the validity of their personal documents, but also what kind of phone SIM card they are using. When traveling to countries where the old 3G technology has already been turned off, old SIM cards will also not work. As a result, you will be left without the Internet and may experience other communication problems. This is also relevant in Lithuania, where 3G connection will be permanently turned off this year. The expert named which countries will have problems if you are not properly prepared for the trip, the press release says.
"Most European countries have already abandoned 3G communication technology. The old 3G has been successfully replaced by faster 4G and the latest 5G technology, which are used by most communication operators. Not only updated communication networks, but also smart devices that automatically connect to a network that is several times faster have contributed to the establishment of newer technologies," says Modestas Ropė, Director of Next-Generation Networks at Bitė Lietuva.
According to him, the 2001G connection introduced in Japan in 3 was a significant leap in the development of mobile communications. Unlike the previous 2G technology, which only allowed for making calls and sending SMS messages, 3G opened up new possibilities. “3G technology allowed for the first time to surf the Internet, watch videos, and use e-mail on a phone. However, 3G is a slow Internet technology and no longer meets today's needs, so in 2018 the first 3G connection shutdown projects in the world began,” says M. Ropė.
Currently, 3G technology is mostly used only for calls, but the previous generation 2G connection also successfully performs this function. After 3G is turned off, the frequencies used by this technology will be transferred to the development of 4G and the new generation 5G. Lithuania is also following this path - by turning off the old technology, the quality of services of the next generation will improve. In total, over the next few years, Bitė is investing 5 million euros in the quality of services, the construction of the new generation 100G network and the modernization of existing networks.
"It may be unusual that 3G is being turned off, rather than the older 2G connection, but this is also determined by the number of users. 2G technology is still used by a large number of telemetry devices - security systems, alarms, parking lot firewalls, etc.," explains M. Ropė.
Popular travel destinations - no longer 3G
The first to abandon 3G technology Taiwan In 2018, the Western world followed suit. 3G connectivity has already been completely turned off in Germany, Italy, Greece, the Czech Republic, the Netherlands, Norway, Finland, Denmark, Estonia, Croatia, and Hungary.
"This means that even when traveling to the most popular European countries, connectivity challenges may arise. First of all, a "Bitė" or "Labas" SIM card or other device that only supports 3G will not be able to connect to either 4G or 5G. Second, if you connect to the still-functioning older 2G technology, you will not be able to use the Internet," warns the director of next-generation networks at "Bitė".
Those planning trips to the United Kingdom, as well as neighboring Poland and Latvia, should also be wary. These countries are also already abandoning 3G technology. For example, the British Isles, just like "Bitė", plan to turn off 3G connections by the end of this year.
Communication technology is changing outside of Europe as well. 3G connection no longer works JAV, Australia, New Zealand, the Philippines, Malaysia, Sri Lanka and Lithuania's favorite Turkey.
It is recommended to update the SIM card
Those planning trips abroad are first recommended to check whether the phone and other smart devices they are using support the latest communication technologies.
"You can find out whether a phone works with 4G or 5G connectivity in its settings or in the description provided by the manufacturer. Manufacturers often mention the connectivity technology in the name of the phone, for example, "Samsung Galaxy A55 5G," advises M. Ropė.
You should also check how old your phone's SIM card is. If it was purchased before 2014, when only 2G and 3G cards were used, it may not work with 4G or 5G.
"Even if you have the latest phone, it can stop working if an old SIM card is inserted into it. The SIM card stores not only user data, but also authentication keys. They are what allow you to connect to the mobile network, so you can make calls, send messages, or use the Internet," says one of the managers of the digital services company Bitė.
Customers can exchange old SIM cards for new ones from "Bitės", including "Labas", free of charge at "Bitės" salons throughout Lithuania.
