Protect EU citizens' right to reliable voice communications: Stop forced upgrades, ensure legacy network support, and promote affordable and sustainable communication services for all.

TL;DR: Don't Leave EU Citizens in the Dark: Sign now to demand the EU protect our right to reliable voice communications! With 2G and 3G networks shutting down, time is running out to act.

Time is running out: The fallback option to 2G/3G networks will expire on December 31st, 2025, leaving millions without reliable voice communications unless action is taken now.
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This issue affects not only users of basic phones but also those with smartphones. Many smartphone users have invested in devices capable of 4G, yet they may still be reliant on 2G and 3G networks due to a lack of appropriate support for 4G VoLTE or 5G VoNR from their carriers.

Preventing forced upgrades is crucial for maintaining consumer choice and ensuring that individuals can use devices that best meet their needs without being pressured to purchase new ones.

It promotes a more sustainable approach to technology and helps protect consumers from unnecessary costs. This underscores the need for comprehensive solutions that address the communication needs of all users, regardless of the type of device they own.

By signing this petition, you'll be sending a message to the EU Council and Commission to take immediate action, and ensure that all citizens have access to affordable, and sustainable communication services.
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The Problem:

Millions of EU citizens, including prepaid users, travelers, and those living in rural areas, are at risk of being left without reliable voice communications due to the shutdown of 2G and 3G networks and the lack of standard 4G VoLTE or 5G VoNR support during roaming among European telecom operators. This will disproportionately affect vulnerable populations, such as the elderly and those with disabilities, who rely on their phones for emergency calls and basic communication.

Many EU citizens have invested in 4G-capable devices, only to find that their carriers do not support VoLTE, forcing them to rely on 2G and 3G networks. The shutdown of these networks will leave them without a reliable means of making voice calls, including emergency calls, which is a fundamental right and essential for public safety.

The Impact:

If the shutdown of 2G and 3G networks proceeds without adequate support for 4G VoLTE or 5G VoNR, EU citizens will face significant disruptions to their daily lives, including the inability to make emergency calls, access critical services, and stay connected with loved ones. This will not only compromise their safety and well-being but also undermine the fundamental right to communication.

Furthermore, the forced upgrades and planned obsolescence in the tech industry will continue to harm consumers and the environment, perpetuating a cycle of waste and exploitation. The lack of standardization and interoperability between different carriers and device manufacturers will also lead to a fragmented market, where consumers are forced to purchase new devices that are only compatible with specific networks, rather than being able to choose from a wide range of devices that meet their needs. This will result in significant economic and environmental costs, as well as a loss of consumer choice and autonomy.
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The Urgency:

Currently, users can still fall back to 2G/3G networks (via Circuit Switched Fallback, or CSFB) when VoLTE is not enabled, but this workaround is only guaranteed to be available until December 31st, 2025, as mandated by EU legislation.

After that date, there's a risk that this fallback option may no longer exist, leaving users without a reliable means of making voice calls. 

This adds urgency to the need for carriers to improve 4G VoLTE support and interoperability, as well as for regulators to ensure that users' interests are protected. The same applies to 5G and VoNR.

The Solution:

Now is the time to act because the shutdown of 2G and 3G networks is already underway. The window for intervention is rapidly closing. The EU has a critical role to play in regulating the tech industry and ensuring that consumers' interests are protected.

By signing this petition, we demand that the EU takes immediate action to protect EU citizens' right to reliable voice communications, stops forced upgrades, and promotes a more sustainable and consumer-centric approach to technology. We urge the EU to work with telecom operators and manufacturers to ensure that all citizens have access to affordable, reliable, and environmentally friendly communication services.
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Our Demands:

Specifically, we call on the EU to:
(1) Ensure that at least one of the legacy networks (2G or 3G) is kept active to maintain voice communications for devices or roaming that do not support 4G VoLTE or 5G VoNR standards;
(2) Encourage telecom operators to expedite the implementation of 4G VoLTE or 5G VoNR support during roaming;
(3) Promote public awareness campaigns to inform users about the ongoing changes in voice communication technologies and the importance of upgrading their devices to support 4G VoLTE or 5G VoNR, and;
(4) Prevent carriers from restricting VoLTE support to specific phone models sold by them, and instead require them to support a wide range of devices available in stores, allowing users to choose their preferred phone without being tied to a specific carrier.

As 2G and 3G networks are shut down across the EU, carriers must be required to support a generic VoLTE profile to ensure that:
(1) Emergency services, such as eCall systems in cars, can connect to emergency responders seamlessly and reliably;
(2) Affordable devices, including older and lower-cost phones, can continue to make and receive voice calls and access data services;
(3) Consumers are not forced to upgrade to expensive new devices or plans to maintain basic phone functionality.

To achieve this, we demand that EU regulators mandate the carriers to support one of the generic device service profiles, ensuring that all carriers support a standardized and interoperable voice and data service. This will protect consumers, ensure public safety, and promote affordability and accessibility in the telecommunications sector.

Example from Australia:

Telco 4G/5G Device Blocking:
stop-telco-4g-5g-device-blocking-volte-restrictions-australia-s-3g-shutdown

Restrictions for 4G Calling:
remove-restrictions-for-4g-calling-from-the-telstra-mobile-network-before-the-3g-shut-down

Investigate Impact of Shutdown:
investigate-the-impact-of-telstra-s-3g-network-shutdown-on-australians

Take Action:

Sign now and share with your friends and family to help us reach our goal! Together, we can make a difference and ensure that EU citizens have access to reliable and sustainable communication services.

Thank you.