FIDO ROAM with phone that doesn't support VoLTE

[YVR1967]

I just purchased Fido Roam for an upcoming trip to the United States (Washington State).  I will be travelling with my Samsung Galaxy A8. 

I saw on Fido that:

As of Feb 2022, wireless providers in the United States, including AT&T and T-Mobile, have begun shutting down their 

their 3G/HSPA networks.  During this transition, you may notice significantly reduced service coverage while travelling and roaming in the U.S.  After July 1, 2022, you will no longer be able to roam on the cellular network in the U.S., and you will not be able to make or receive wireless calls (including 911 calls), text messages, or use cellular data while in the U.S. (including Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands).

What does this mean for me?  Did I just pay for something that I won't be able to use???

[Cawtau · Accepted solution]

Hello YVR1967,

  Welcome to the community!

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@YVR1967 wrote:

I just purchased Fido Roam for an upcoming trip to the United States...

...Did I just pay for something that I won't be able to use?..

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  Firstly to clarify, Fido Roam is automatically enabled on Data, Talk & Text and Talk & Text plans. However, the Fido Roam charges will only incur if your phone uses services -- make or receive a call, send a text message or use data abroad. If you have not yet travelled to the US, there would not have been any charges for Fido Roam.

  At this stage, I believe the US has fully shutdown their '3G' (WCDMA/UMTS) networks. Unfortunately, if your device does not support voice-over-LTE (voLTE), you will not be able to use it in the US for calls or possibly SMS/MMS either. As far as I am aware, that device (Canadian version) should have some US-compatible LTE bands/frequencies (see here). If you have a different version of the device, the available bands/frequencies may vary. So, you may be able to use the device for data on their LTE networks. That said, if you have a Talk & Text plan, you would not be able to use those services.

  Although I have not found any definitive information regarding voLTE on that particular device, there seems to be inklings online suggesting at least some versions of that device may support voLTE (see here, here, here, etc). However, it may be version specific or limited to certain carriers.

Hope this helps 😀

Cheers

[YVR1967]

Yes, thank you.  You are correct, I already have Fido Roam.  I purchased a Roam Package.

I had a live chat with a Fido agent, and she told me that there have not been any customers reporting unable to roam so she thinks I should be okay.  And if roaming doesn't work, I could contact them for a refund. 

I did manage to find a map of all the cellular carriers in Seattle (and other US cities) showing their 3G/4G/5G coverage.  It looks like they still have 4G and 5G but no longer 3G.  

https://www.nperf.com/en/map/US/5809844.Seattle/2420.ATT-Mobility/signal?ll=47.62745450827172&lg=-12...

Fingers crossed!