Recently, numerous netizens have reported that the senior phones used by their elderly family members frequently encounter signal issues or difficulties in making calls. A visit by reporters to the business halls and customer service centers of China Mobile and China Unicom in Shanghai uncovered that with the widespread adoption of 5G networks, the number of 2G and 3G base stations is gradually diminishing. This trend has led to frequent signal problems for senior phones that exclusively support these older networks. Although Shanghai and other regions have not yet issued formal notices regarding the complete shutdown of 2G services, the reduction of base stations has become an evident trend, and instances of poor signal reception are expected to become increasingly prevalent.

Across the country, many regions, including Jiangsu and Zhejiang, have explicitly promoted the retirement of 2G and 3G networks and have issued relevant announcements to this effect. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology has stated that the retirement of 2G and 3G networks is an inevitable step in the upgrading of mobile communication networks. However, it is crucial to enhance user protection measures, provide advance notice to affected users, and offer viable follow-up plans to ensure a smooth transition.