Ask LH: Can I Still Use The Dual Sim In Kogan’s Agora 6 Plus?

Dear Lifehacker, I’m interested in buying the Kogan Agora 6 Plus smartphone. It seems to have great features, the most important of which to me is dual SIM. However, I read the dual SIM is 4G-2G, Do you know if the second SIM port will work as I thought the 2G network was shut down in Australia? Thanks, Dual Replicant

Dear DR,

Indeed it is. Telstra has already shut down its 2G network and other major Australian telcos are set to follow. Optus will kill off its 2G network in April next year with Vodafone pulling the plug on 30 September. By early 2018, mobile services on 2G networks will be very hard to come by.

We contacted Kogan, who confirmed the 2G SIM card slot in the Kogan Agora 6 Plus won’t work with mobile network providers who have ceased support for 2G devices. For Telstra customers, this means the second SIM card slot is already useless. (It’s not just the Agora either; the same goes for other dual-SIM smartphones sold in Australia.)

“For any active 2G networks in Australia, that SIM card can still be used. Similarly, when travelling overseas, the second SIM slot will work with international 2G networks around the world,” a Kogan representative explained to us.

So there you have it. Unless you travel frequently or subscribe to a 2G-friendly telco, a dual-SIM card slot probably shouldn’t be too high on your list of must-have features.

Cheers
Lifehacker

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