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If your phone still relies on 2G or 3G to carry voice calls, it may no longer be able to make or receive cellular calls after that network is switched off. Calling can continue when your carrier supports your specific phone and line for voice over LTE (VoLTE, often called 4G Calling) or a supported 5G voice service. A 4G or 5G icon alone does not confirm that voice calls will work.
What happens to calls when a network closes?
A shutdown removes the affected generation as a route for calls. A phone that depends on that route for voice may lose the ability to make and receive calls, even if it can still show a newer network for mobile data. Whether calls continue depends on the local carrier, the handset and its software, and how the phone line is provisioned.
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With VoLTE, voice calls travel over LTE rather than falling back to 2G or 3G. Some supported networks and devices can also carry voice using 5G services. If the phone, carrier, or account is not configured for a supported newer voice service, having LTE or 5G data does not by itself preserve calling.
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Why a 4G or 5G icon is not enough
Phones can use one network generation for data and another for voice. Rogers, for example, warns its Canadian customers that some phones show 4G or 5G for data while still using 2G for voice; after Rogers’ planned 2G retirement, it says VoLTE is required for voice calling. That is a carrier-specific example, not a universal rule for other networks. Rogers’ 2G retirement guidance
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with Verizon, Spectrum, AT&T, Total Wireless, other CDMA carriers, it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
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Compatibility is more than a phone having LTE hardware. The carrier must support the phone’s particular model and VoLTE implementation, and calling must be enabled and provisioned for the line. Software updates can matter too. Hong Kong’s communications regulator warns that some earlier 4G phones may need an update or replacement to support emergency calls after older networks cease operating. Hong Kong OFCA guidance on 2G/3G users
What to check before your local shutdown
- Find out which network is closing and when. Check your carrier’s notice or ask its support team; dates vary by country and operator.
- Check the phone’s calling setting. Look in mobile-network or cellular settings for a setting labelled “VoLTE,” “4G Calling,” or, where offered, 5G calling. Menu names and locations vary by phone. Enable the option if it is available.
- Ask the carrier to verify your exact setup. Give it the phone’s precise model, software version, SIM or eSIM, and account details. Ask whether that combination is approved and provisioned for voice calls after the shutdown—not merely whether the phone supports 4G or 5G data.
- Ask specifically about emergency calls. Do not assume a phone that can make ordinary VoLTE calls will necessarily place emergency calls reliably on the carrier’s network. Ask the provider to confirm support for your model and location.
- Update or replace only if needed. Install a carrier or phone software update if the provider recommends one. If the handset is not supported, ask which replacement models work on your exact network before buying.
A status-bar icon or an enabled setting is not a substitute for the carrier confirming that your phone and line will work after the change.
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation.
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
There is no single global shutdown date
Network retirement is scheduled market by market. These official examples show why a date for one place should not be treated as a deadline everywhere:
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|---|---|---|
| United Kingdom | Operators’ 2G switch-off plans run from 2029 to 2033, according to government consumer guidance last updated 29 July 2026. | Check your own operator’s plan and advice. UK government guidance |
| Hong Kong | 2G service ended on 23 June 2026, according to the communications regulator’s 16 December 2025 announcement identifying CMHK as the last operator. | This is the reported end of 2G service in Hong Kong, not a global date. OFCA announcement record |
| Hong Kong (Smartone 3G) | 3G cessation was planned to begin on 9 October 2026, in OFCA guidance revised 23 July 2026. | This is a specific operator milestone; check the regulator or operator for current local arrangements. OFCA guidance |
| Canada (Rogers) | Rogers lists 30 November 2027 as its planned 2G retirement date. | Rogers says VoLTE will be required for voice after retirement; its requirements apply to its network and customers. Rogers support page |
For broader UK context, the House of Commons Library has also summarized switch-off impacts, including connected devices and emergency-service considerations. House of Commons Library briefing
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Check alarms and other connected equipment separately
A mobile phone is not the only device that may depend on an older network. UK government guidance names medical pendants, lift alarms, and fire alarms among equipment that can rely on 2G. Contact the equipment maker or the service provider responsible for monitoring it to confirm compatibility and arrange any required change; a phone upgrade will not update those systems. UK government guidance on phones and smart devices
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- Please note, this device does not support E-SIM; This 4G model is compatible with all GSM networks worldwide outside of the U.S. In the US, ONLY compatible with T-Mobile and their MVNO's (Metro and Standup). It will NOT work with other CDMA carriers, and it is also not compatible with their MVNO (Visible, Xfinity Mobile, US Mobile, Cricket Wireless, etc).
- Compatibility with certain third-party devices and accessibility accessories, including some hearing aids, may vary depending on manufacturer support, Bluetooth protocols, software compatibility, and regional firmware limitations. For additional hearing aid compatibility information, please refer to Samsung’s official support documentation
- Camera: 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 50 MP, f/1.8, (wide), 1/2.76", 0.64µm, AF | 2 MP, f/2.4, (macro). Battery: 5000 mAh, non-removable | A power adapter is NOT included.
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