Malaysia plans to shut down 3G by 2021

https://www.lowyat.net/2020/220338/malaysia...t-down-jendela/

How does the gov expect everyone to have 4G & VoLTE capable phones? 4G probably might be OK but VoLTE might be a real problem...

Well, they managed to shut down analogue TV broadcast. There'll be some people caught out for sure, but they'll all need to buy new devices, no choice. Maybe the government should subsidise the upgrade from non-4G phones to 5G phones.

Means 2G still available?

I think subsidy for 5G phones abit impossible, 4G VoLTE capable phones maybe...

I think not, but i havent found any reliable source reporting about this yet

Never mind volte capable phones

More like Apple, Samsung, Huawei, Oppo, Xiaomi flagship supported

If the 4G phone doesn't have VoLTE, then it would fallback to 2G network during calls.

Yeah... 2G GPRS/EDGE service is still operating as usual in Malaysia, although there's limited places (such as underground LRT/MRT stations) already switchover to both 3G and 4G, or 4G-only.

It seems that they're thinking of ceasing off 3G first instead.
2G network are still being used today, especially from Machine-to-Machine (M2M) and Internet-of-Things (IoT), mainly from commercial business and uses... Not for average daily consumers like us, except those elderly that uses 2G phone.
Although yes, 2G is "outdated" but somehow it still tends to generate some revenue for telcos.

If those devices were to be upgraded to support 4G, it's gonna involve some great costs to owners to buy and upgrade.
After all, those machines/devices uses less than around 50MB per month, where 2G network (either via GPRS or EDGE) are already sufficient to satisfy their needs, hence they don't necessarily need a high speed 4G network for their applications.

Either way, shutting down 3G might be making sense. We don't see many new 3G-only phones on market nowadays... Even the market's cheapest and lousiest phone are likely to support 4G already (whether it supports VoLTE or not, then it's different story )
For the elderly people that is not tech savvy ones, they are either still on their 2G feature phones, OR already on 4G-enabled smartphones.

---
All Malaysian telcos already supports VoLTE, except...:
Celcom VoLTE is available to all Celcom Mobile Postpaid plan customers using iPhone 7 and above only.
Maxis, don't have VoLTE yet at all.

By the time when 3G has fully shutdown, and if you use a 4G phone that doesn't support VoLTE, then it would fallback to 2G network during calls.

This post has been edited by joshhd: Aug 30 2020, 12:52 AM

Digi myapp can check e-statement like hotlink?

i just bought one local made 3G only phone , it is still promoting by renowned company in malaysia

What brand, what model? How much and where did you bought?

https://myfon.asia/products/smart-phone/s3/
https://myfon.asia/products/smart-phone/s9/
https://myfon.asia/products/smart-phone/f7/

and it is promoting by astro goshop

I understand that you are patriotic to support Malaysian branded products, but tbh not every single Malaysian branded products is good, including and especially mobile phones...

Just because Go Shop or CJ Wow Shop advertises the product, it doesn't mean the product is definitely good.

And why you wanna buy a 3G only phone?
You could get a much better budget smartphone from other brands, and it comes with 4G... Refer this link below, phones priced below RM500.
https://phone.mesramobile.com/category/best...ne-under-rm500/

no need to talk in hindsight, everyone has different living conditions, and also i prefer buy from real store instead of buy online.Besides,many models displayed in the website not available in real store,price also much more expensive.

Probably should improve 4G coverage first. Ok in towns, but try rural areas first.

Shutting down 3G to refarm as 4G is part of the effort to improve 4G.

No Telco in the world waited for perfect 2G before introducing 3G or waited for perfect 3G before introducing 4G.

Agreed .
Also for current 4G covered areas.. improve the speed & reduce the congestion issue first...

Shutting down 3G is part of the effort to improve 4G.

Anyway in a competitive market, telcos aren't going to wait while their competitors introduce new tech first.

That the plan.
But would it really improve???
Hopefully....

Well stopping 3G from shutting down certainly won't improve 4G.

Hi, I’m back to Digi Previously changed to Hotlink Unlimited for the past 2 months but realised in Subang, Maxis has very bad connection & Digi has better connection here so ytd I went to Pyramid to get back Digi Prepaid. The person told me Digi Next cannot port out so she gave me basic Digi Live which Digi Prepaid plan is the best for minimal usage and cheapest? Also still waiting Digi still haven’t send me sms to ask me to convert to their telco

It is expected that all existing 3G cells towers will be upgraded to support 4G, so for that part, no need to worry in terms of places that is only covered by 3G now.