Chao News client reporter Zhou Xialin.
Recently, the relevant person in charge of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology publicly stated that 2G 3G network withdrawal is an inevitable choice for the upgrading of mobile communication networks, but at the same time, it is also necessary to improve user protection measures, and the network withdrawal can only be implemented under the premise of fully protecting the rights and interests of users. This has aroused heated discussions and questions among many netizens, why is it an inevitable choice for 2G 3G to enter the network with the public mobile terminal? In the era of 5G+, who is still using 2G 3G networks?
Who is using 2G 3G networks?
After 2008, 3G ushered in its "highlight moment" in China. If 2G technology has changed human voice communication, then 3G technology, which far exceeds 2G in terms of network carrying capacity, bandwidth and speed, has accelerated users from the "text era" to the "** era". "Can**, can watch TV" is the unique memory of mobile phone users at that time for 3G.
Turning on HD** will be delayed, and watching the ball game** is not smooth enough. Xiao Li, who was still a university student in Hangzhou, recalls that despite this, he still firmly believed that this was a "window" to a new world.
With the passage of time, with the continuous improvement of communication technology, with the help of various applications and **, the "window" seems to be insufficient. In the past few years, 4G and 5G base stations have been like sparks all over the land of China, taking on the responsibility of expanding the "window" into the "gate" of emerging communications. Going to the business halls of major operators to change cards and actively replacing 4G 5G mobile phones has become the mainstream operation of netizens at that time. "When I was a child, my mother often told me that when we grow up, we should use a handheld computer for office work, and after 4G, her imagination has become a reality. Xiao Li said with a smile that his parents had already been "Amway" by him, and each had a "handheld computer".
Unlike the "avant-garde" Xiao Li family, Zhuang Yi (pseudonym) is very troubled in order to let his parents change to smartphones.
My parents are over 80 years old, they usually live in the countryside, and their life is very simple, just like their mobile phones, they can only make and receive calls**. Zhuang Yi said that his parents are still using 2G mobile phones, and he has always wanted his parents to try to pass some boring time through smartphones, and also hopes that they will learn to talk and see the outside world. "But the monthly fee is really cheap, only 8 yuan. Zhuang Yi added.
A 2G phone that the elderly are still using.
Why are you reluctant to change your 4G 5G phone? The Chao News reporter chatted after obtaining the consent of Zhuang's mother.
In the eyes of the elderly, the mobile phone is just a communication tool, there is no need to pursue fashion and trends, she prefers to choose the old mobile phone with higher cost performance. As an emerging technology, she also believes that there is a lack of understanding and trust, and she feels at a loss and even resists watching the fingers of the younger generation jump rapidly on the complicated operation interface of the application.
We lived like this, even if I gave us a mobile phone, I was not interested in (learning to use Xi). Zhuang Yi's mother said in **.
On the one hand, with the development of smart home, telemedicine and other technologies, mobile phones have become an important tool to connect families and medical care, bringing convenience far beyond the cost of learning Xi; On the other hand, according to the Zhejiang Internet Industry Statistical Report (2022), by the end of 2022, the scale of 4G and 5G mobile users in Zhejiang Province has continued, and the scale of Internet users over 60 years old has gradually expanded, and the preference for network applications is diversified. Although, in this huge group, many people still rely on 2G 3G networks for basic communication needs such as calling, texting, etc.
In recent years, with the evolution of networks, operators have been discontinuing 2G and 3G networks where conditions are ripe. Zeng Jianqiu, a professor at Beijing University of Posts and Telecommunications, said in an interview with China Business Daily that the retention of 2G and 3G varies greatly between different regions. At present, the scale of 4G and 5G users has reached more than 1.3 billion, and a very small number of people use 2G and 3G networks, mainly the elderly. At present, many elderly people are also using WeChat and other Internet access functions, entering the ranks of 4G and 5G users.
2G 3G network must be refunded?
Not long ago, some netizens suggested on the message board of People's Daily Online that now the country is vigorously developing 5G communication technology, and conforming to the trend of the times is a move to benefit the people and strengthen the country with science and technology. However, in the pursuit of high-tech at the same time, can we consider the actual situation in our country, there are a large number of people in China are still using old mobile phones, button mobile phones and other electronic equipment, if some national basic telecommunications operators in the name of network upgrades, illegal 2G, 3G, 4G basic communication signal base stations are closed, then it will lead to a large number of aforementioned groups of customer mobile phones can not be called**. Therefore, some netizens left a message saying that they hope that the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology will make overall arrangements in combination with the actual situation in China to ensure the basic communication functions of the above-mentioned groups, gradually develop new communication technologies, and retain the normal operation of basic communication functions.
5G base station data map.
In this regard, in response to this, the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology said that since the issuance of 5G licenses in June 2019, China's 5G has been officially commercialized. China's mobile communications have entered the stage of 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G "four generations in the same house", therefore, 2G and 3G withdrawal is an inevitable choice for the upgrading of mobile communication networks, and it is also the main practice in the current world.
According to the GSA (Global Mobile Business Association), as of the end of June 2023, 149 operators worldwide have completed, planned, or are in the process of shutting down 2G and 3G networks.
On December 8, 2021, the UK** said on the same day that it would phase out 2G and 3G services by 2033, in order to give way to 5G and 6G services in the market. According to the UK**, setting a date for the end of 2G and 3G services will facilitate the entry of new device manufacturers into the market.
A few days ago, Xiang Ligang, an expert in the communications industry, said in an interview with a reporter from CCTV that the main function of the current 2G network support is to play **, but the 800MHz frequency band used in 2G is a good frequency band, and the use of 5G can make the use of this frequency band more efficient. "For example, we used to build a small bungalow in this place, but now we want to remove the small bungalow and build a 20-storey building, and the land is still so large, and the use of the land is more efficient. ”
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology also said that the use of limited frequency resources and network resources in the development of 5G and 4G mobile communication networks is conducive to reducing China's network operating costs as a whole and improving network operation efficiency.
In a word, it is the general trend that 2G and 3G mobile phones are withdrawn from the network, just like PHS at the beginning.
How to protect the basic rights and interests of 2G and 3G users?
For young people, the impact of 2G and 3G withdrawal is limited, and more of them are elderly people like Zhuang Yi's parents. According to the logic of deactivation, their mobile phones may be a "brick" in the future. If they start to "quit the net", then what will they do?
At present, we have not received a notice of withdrawal from the network, and our 2G and 3G mobile phones can still be used normally. In the business hall of a communication service provider in Hangzhou, the relevant person in charge told reporters. As for whether and when all 2G 3G base stations in Hangzhou will be closed, the staff of the business hall said that they do not know about it.
If the elderly at home really can't play **, it is recommended to come to the business hall for consultation. The other party added.
Subsequently, the reporter called the customer service of China Mobile, China Unicom and China Telecom, and the other party said that the 2G 3G communication in Hangzhou can be used normally, and it is not known whether the network will be withdrawn in the future.
Indeed, from the perspective of resource utilization and cost accounting, 2G and 3G technology are no longer suitable for the current information "superhighway". However, when the change of communication technology becomes a trend or even a rule, the industry urgently needs a set of resettlement measures that can be replicated.
On social platforms, some netizens shared some solutions:
1. If there is a situation that you cannot make a call** or the mobile phone does not display the signal, the user can choose to upgrade the ** card to 4G and above at the business hall, as for the tariff, you need to call the operator to which the number belongs or the user himself will consult the business hall with his ID card.
2. Some elderly machines, find and turn on the function of Volte HD voice call in the settings, and can connect to the Internet normally. If you don't have this option on your phone, then port your number.
3. At present, some elderly users do not want to open mobile network services, but only need to use 2G signals to meet the needs of receiving calls, or they can choose to use them normally after suspending background data.
A 5G smartphone in the business hall.
However, users who are still using 2G and 3G mobile phones do not need to worry, because the withdrawal from the network will not be "one-size-fits-all", let alone shut down, and perhaps better solutions and placement measures are on the way.
The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology also pointed out in its response that the withdrawal of mobile communications from the network is not a simple "retreat", and it is necessary to improve user protection measures and fully protect the rights and interests of users before the withdrawal can be implemented. Enterprises should plan and inform as early as possible, and must have user protection measures and perfect user aftercare plans, and have the ability to provide better network coverage, stronger business capabilities and better service quality, so as to create conditions for users to be "willing to retreat" and "willing to retreat".
Instead of trying to get older adults to learn all the functions at once, start with the most basic functions, such as dialing, texting, etc., and then gradually guide them to learn Xi other functions. Xiao Li believes that instead of waiting for the "withdrawal from the network", it is better to take the initiative, and the young people should give the elderly more patience and enjoy the dividends brought by the communication revolution, just as they taught us to walk.
*Please indicate the source".