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Estonian Network Detects Active 1992-Era Mobile Phones
Telia's mobile network in Estonia has registered activity from pioneering 1990s handsets, including the world's first one-handed GSM phone and the device that received the inaugural SMS, both still functioning on the durable 2G network.
- —Telia's mobile network in Estonia has recently seen activity from very old mobile phones, including a Motorola International 3200 manufactured around 1992, which was the world's first one-handed GSM handset.
- —Another rare device, the Orbitel 901, the first officially certified GSM phone (approved May 1992), also showed activity on the network, marking its significance as the device used to receive the first SMS message before Christmas 1992.
- —These vintage phones, along with models like Nokia 1610, 1611, 2010, 2110, and Ericsson GH172, can only operate on the 2G GSM network, highlighting the longevity of this older technology.
- —While some European countries have already shut down their GSM networks, Estonia's continue to operate, though Telia acknowledges the eventual need to phase them out for newer technologies.
- —Telia is encouraging the public to bring old electronics to recycling points, coinciding with a nationwide digital cleanup day.
Recap
The reappearance of 1990s-era phones is more than a novelty; it's a stark illustration of legacy infrastructure's persistence. The continued operation of the 2G network highlights the long, costly tail of technological transitions, forcing providers to support obsolete systems while pushing for modernization and the reallocation of spectrum for newer, more efficient technologies.