THE government announced the National Digital Network (Jendela) initiative in August 2020 to boost broadband efficiency for Malaysians.
The plan also includes the phased termination of the 3G network by the end of 2021.
It is part of the government's drive to improve the 4G network while also laying the groundwork for the 5G network.
Therefore, Malaysians are advised to upgrade their current phones to 4G before the 3G network is shut down.
Users who are still using a 3G SIM card may experience call and Internet interruptions as all telecommunication companies are now planning and focusing on 4G network upgrades.
Furthermore, 3G phones are less powerful, use more electricity, have limited talk time, and require a larger battery pack than their 4G counterparts.
Users may also have a difficult time finding replacement parts for their 3G devices, should they become faulty or wear out, because smartphone companies are no longer releasing 3G smartphone models.
Mobile applications like MySejahtera need a fast 4G Internet connection too to accurately update their location data history.
Due to the decline of the 3G network, Celcom is providing consumers with free 4G phones as well as prepaid and postpaid plans that complement their current lifestyle.
If users need a phone, they can choose from a variety of 4G phones with high performance in the market, including Vivo Y1s, Samsung Galaxy A02, Nokia C2, OPPO A53 and several other 4G phones that include data plans up to 40GB and unlimited calls.
Consumers will get to save money and also have smoother connectivity as well as access to the 4G network.
Users can enjoy a free 4G smartphone when they switch to Celcom today.
For more information, visit the nearest Celcom bluecube store or head over to Celcom's website.
This article originally appeared on Harian Metro with rights to be republished on the New Straits Times.