There are some important changes taking place which may impact those travelling to the USA.
Ahead of the completion of the USA 3G switch off, some American networks have already begun to cease 3G services in some states. O2 and Vodafone have issued information around this, which we have summarised below for anyone experiencing issues while roaming.
O2 Network
Will continue to support all types of mobile devices in the UK but if you are planning to travel to the USA, you may experience service issues. A phased 3G switch off has begun and will continue into 2023, this is due to American mobile phone carriers upgrading their networks and working towards completely shutting down their 2G and 3G services in time.
To ensure the best levels of service, please check you have the following:
- A 4G or 5G phone, which supports 4G calling when roaming
- 4G or 5G enabled SIM
- A compatible tariff
- 4G calling enabled on subscription and device
You should also make sure the device has the most recent software version.
Vodafone
As part of network upgrades, Vodafone’s network roaming partners in the USA (AT&T and T-Mobile) switched off their 3G services. This means you may have noticed an impact on your roaming experience, including voice calls.
Vodafone have worked hard to improve the roaming experience for travelling to the USA and can confirm that 4G Calling USA is now live.
4G Calling, also known as Voice over LTE or VoLTE, is a way of making phone calls over the 4G network which should result in improved call quality. 4G data can still be enjoyed as normal. To access 4G Calling abroad, you will need to make sure your phone is updated to the latest software version.
For more information or to discuss communication options for your business, please email us info@piblu.co.uk or call us on 0161 388 8188.
