Is Bell discontinuing HSPA+?

[dannyboy]

Where I live, the only carrier that worked for not dropping calls was Bell. Problem is the stronger signal is HSPA+. LTE is extremely weak even though the map says it is available. My phone (Samsung A5 (2017) works great but can no longer update due to age. I tried the Samsung S22 and Motorola G Stylus (2020) with both having LTE figuring newer phones should get stronger signal, but ended up returning them due to very weak signal at my home even outside (-108dBm) where as my phone on HSPA+ got -89 dBm. 
I guess due to US phasing out HSPA, any new phone most likely won't have that network anymore?
And since internet out here is completely useless and extremely expensive, I've had better speeds off the data on my phone, so would really like to find a phone that will pick up LTE strong in rural areas.

[AlexS · Accepted solution]

The final sunset date is the end of 2025. But somebody from Wasaga Beach recently saying that his/her phone service has disappeared after 5G was rolled out. He/she said wanna try out LTE or 3G but still hasn’t updated the topic yet. https://forum.bell.ca/t5/Mobility/5G-service-stinks/m-p/3097

[dannyboy]

Thanks for the response. I just got the Samsung A13 5G to replace an A11 that got damaged. It works quite well in the area with phone calls but still has sim status at -103dBm. I figured out where the tower is located and going to try a signal booster in the next few days to see if I can improve that. Don't know why this A13 gets a better signal than the s22 I tried, but it does. I'll post any changes.

[AlexS]

lol sounds pretty professional. U should be fine. My iPhone 7 and 11 pro always get 1/4 of the complete slots under LTE but the data speed is never slow and the audio is clear unless the other side has problems instead.

[dannyboy]

Got my booster in today. Read the instructions and it's not going to make a difference on LTE. Instructions say it would be very minimal according to my LTE reading.  Unless Bell improves the LTE signal, I'll just have to keep using HSPA. Funny on my partners brand new Samsung A13, the best signal comes in on 3G at -85 dbm, LTE -110.
Oh well.