SaskTel is the most recent Canadian service to announce the top of its 3G community.
In a launch on Feb. 10, the Saskatchewan-based crown company mentioned it “might be turning down its 3G wi-fi community on October 1, 2027.” SaskTel says that after this date, 3G wi-fi units will now not perform on its community, and wi-fi units that don’t assist voice over LTE (VoLTE) will lose entry to voice providers.
If you happen to’re undecided whether or not your system helps VoLTE, SaskTel has a assist web page the place you may verify whether or not your cellphone will work. VoLTE assist is vital as units that don’t assist the usual fall again to 3G providers to carry out voice calls, which is why these telephones will cease working when 3G shuts down.
The adjustments will apply to each SaskTel and the service’s Lüm Cellular offshoot.
SaskTel notes that it’s going to transition the present 3G and non-VoLTE clients to its 4G LTE and 5G/5G+ networks. Charlene Gavel, SaskTel’s president and CEO, famous within the launch that the corporate will be capable to repurpose its 3G spectrum to extend the capability of its different networks as soon as the shutdown is full.
SaskTel joins different Canadian carriers in shuttering 3G in an industry-wide push to section out the expertise and retire ageing gear in favour of newer, quicker wi-fi expertise.
Rogers kicked off the 3G shutdown in 2025, sparking months of points and issues for purchasers. The principle drawback got here again to VoLTE assist. Many purchasers have been informed they would want to improve regardless of having units that assist VoLTE, significantly individuals with OnePlus smartphones.
A part of the issue is certification — Canadian carriers will confirm the units they promote work with their VoLTE, however gained’t at all times confirm units they don’t promote, similar to OnePlus telephones, which aren’t sometimes bought by Canadian carriers. (This doesn’t imply it’s essential purchase a cellphone from a service to get VoLTE, simply that telephones bought by carriers are assured to work even in case you purchase that system elsewhere.)
Subsequent up, a number of suppliers began shutting down their 3G networks in Manitoba on the finish of December, together with Bell, Telus, their subsidiaries like Koodo, and Freedom Cellular. Each Telus and Bell have slated a nationwide 3G shutdown for March 1, 2027.
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