Hi , I got a message saying 3G will be switched off soon and my old phone won't work anymore.  This is annoying since I need it to receive otps. So , if I buy a cheapish Thai 4 G phone and put my old SIM card in , will it work? 

Thanks , I'm sure this must be affecting others too .

53 minutes ago, persimmon said:

Hi , I got a message saying 3G will be switched off soon and my old phone won't work anymore.  This is annoying since I need it to receive otps. So , if I buy a cheapish Thai 4 G phone and put my old SIM card in , will it work? 

Thanks , I'm sure this must be affecting others too .

Thailand will (probably) do the same next year, time to get updated.  If you need to change the SIM your provider can do that easily (same number) for nothing.

Depends if you have micro sim or a whopping sim, a new modern phone is 3k+ baht 

2 hours ago, persimmon said:

Hi , I got a message saying 3G will be switched off soon and my old phone won't work anymore.  This is annoying since I need it to receive otps. So , if I buy a cheapish Thai 4 G phone and put my old SIM card in , will it work? 

Thanks , I'm sure this must be affecting others too .

Where is your sim card from.  i am from UK going through this now, i am with tesco which uses the O2 network, according to the website below my phone is ok its a 6 year old samsung, with reference to the sim card if it is a uk sim in a new phone it has to be activated by using the same network, i keep getting emails saying my phone needs updating/not suitable etc etc, the customer helpline said every thing is fine lol we will see when G3 is switched off. if it a UK go to your providers site they should have a set up similar to Tesco

 

https://support.tescomobile.com/customer/voltecalling

 

https://www.tescomobile.com/help/device-help/network-and-troubleshooting/network-support/3g

I'm with Tesco payg . I should have bought a new phone before I arrived here but forgot . I checked with Google and it said my 8 Yr old Samsung would not work , that's why I wonder if anyone else has put a UK sim in a Thai phone . I don't fancy ringing UK customers support and paying the phone bill .I suppose I'll just wait and see if it still works next year. 

44 minutes ago, persimmon said:

I wonder if anyone else has put a UK sim in a Thai phone .

Tens of thousands have

4 hours ago, persimmon said:

Hi , I got a message saying 3G will be switched off soon and my old phone won't work anymore.  This is annoying since I need it to receive otps. So , if I buy a cheapish Thai 4 G phone and put my old SIM card in , will it work? 

Thanks , I'm sure this must be affecting others too .

 

I'm a bit confused by your question. What does 3G being switched off in the UK, have to do with Thailand? It only matters if you want to use your phone in the U.K. If 3G still works in Thailand, you don't have an issue until they switch it off in Thailand.

If it's only to receive OTP in Thailand and in the U.K, you don't need 3G anyway, as SMS are usually sent via GSM/2G.

So don't panic. 😊 

Take your time to research and buy an updated phone. 

 

2 hours ago, persimmon said:

I'm with Tesco payg . I should have bought a new phone before I arrived here but forgot . I checked with Google and it said my 8 Yr old Samsung would not work , that's why I wonder if anyone else has put a UK sim in a Thai phone . I don't fancy ringing UK customers support and paying the phone bill .I suppose I'll just wait and see if it still works next year. 

 

Cannot imagine an eight year old Samsung isn't LTE capable. Which model?

12 minutes ago, BatteringRam said:

 

Cannot imagine an eight year old Samsung isn't LTE capable. Which model?

It's a J 5 . I only keep as a backup and it's got an old number I've had for ages that's registered for various otp s . But if it can still receive SMS s once 3 g has been switched off then no worries  👍. 

Just buy a new phone and move with tech before it's too complicated for you, banking apps work well

6 hours ago, persimmon said:

got a message saying 3G will be switched off soon and my old phone won't work anymore

I kinda feel sorry for you. 

 

Maybe we could pass the hat around, all chip in to buy a new phone for you. 

 

The AN forum Christmas Party is just around the corner, we could all give it to you there 

2G still works though  ???

4 hours ago, persimmon said:

It's a J 5 . I only keep as a backup and it's got an old number I've had for ages that's registered for various otp s . But if it can still receive SMS s once 3 g has been switched off then no worries  👍. 

 

Samsung J5 is either eight or ten years old and both are LTE/4G capable. LTE Bands 1/3/5/7/8/20 for the ten year old and LTE Bands 1/3/5/7/8/20/40 for the eight year old.

Still usable in U.K and Thailand via 2G/4G when 3G is deprecated.

 

14 hours ago, SAFETY FIRST said:

I kinda feel sorry for you. 

 

Maybe we could pass the hat around, all chip in to buy a new phone for you. 

 

The AN forum Christmas Party is just around the corner, we could all give it to you there 

Pathetic response from someone who has nothing useful to say .

5 minutes ago, persimmon said:

Pathetic response from someone who has nothing useful to say .

Ha ha, I show you a bit of a love and you turn on me. 

 

You fit right into the demographic here. 

 

Grumpy old man's forum. 

 

Some interesting comments!

 

I have an old Nokia 3G mobile phone with a Cambodian SIM.

 

I cannot connect to 4G smartphones used by some friends and family in the UK, however I can connect with old British Telecom landline numbers, being able to have crystal clear conversations!

 

Yes, I know BT landlines are being abolished but evidently there is a campaign to retain them, especially for the elderly with special needs. My cousin is an active campaigner!

On 11/21/2025 at 8:44 AM, howerde said:

Where is your sim card from.  i am from UK going through this now, i am with tesco which uses the O2 network, according to the website below my phone is ok its a 6 year old samsung, with reference to the sim card if it is a uk sim in a new phone it has to be activated by using the same network, i keep getting emails saying my phone needs updating/not suitable etc etc, the customer helpline said every thing is fine lol we will see when G3 is switched off. if it a UK go to your providers site they should have a set up similar to Tesco

 

https://support.tescomobile.com/customer/voltecalling

 

https://www.tescomobile.com/help/device-help/network-and-troubleshooting/network-support/3g

I too am with Tesco Mobile in the UK.

My Nokia 6.1 has been connected to 4G from the day I bought it and put my Tesco SIM in it.

Tesco still send me reminders that "my phone won't work after 3G is switched off".  This is  probably because I  have a SIM-only deal with Tesco. Therefore they do not know what phone I'm using therefore they assume the worst and send me reminders.

 

All you need to do is check in your Samsung Settings and see if it's presently connected to 4G.

It should offer you a "preferred network type". If that includes 4G, you're all set.