You would never guess how old PM Orbán’s mobile phone is!

The Hungarian prime minister’s mobile phone is old and optimised only for 3G networks. However, this cellular technology will end on 30 June in Hungary. Therefore, Orbán will no longer be able to browse the internet on his phone even if he wanted to.

Outdated but proven

According to blikk.hu, Viktor Orbán has been using a Nokia 6700 Classic for years because he sticks to proven devices. The advantage of using such an old-school gadget is that it is much more difficult to infect it with spyware like the infamous Pegasus.

Currently, Orbán’s Nokia is capable of connecting the prime minister to the internet, and he can even read his emails. However, since it supports only 3G, that option will end on 30 June when this type of outdated cellular technology will be ceased in Hungary. By the way, Orbán was seen using that phone during the historic England-Hungary football match in Wolverhampton when the Hungarian team defeated the English on home soil 0-4. 

Bertalan Havasi confirmed to index.hu in 2020 that the prime minister had been using Nokia devices since 2009. Back then, a Nokia 6300 cost 50,000 HUF (approximately EUR 160-180), but it is no longer available in the shops. That model was not able to connect to the internet. Orbán has been using the new 6700 type since the early 2010s.

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Orbán is a professional Facebook user

The Hungarian prime minister uses Facebook regularly and proficiently, but he probably has a team helping him with that. He does not use modern gadgets. For example, when the NSA scandal broke out (the American national security agency spied on European leaders, including Angela Merkel) in 2013, Orbán said that he did not discuss state issues via phone. He added he would rather meet in person to talk about crucial matters. 

An IT security specialist said that those who wanted to stay safe from spyware and avoid eavesdropping attacks should buy an old Nokia. The battery of those phones is easily removable. Therefore, it is difficult to monitor people using them. Meanwhile, it is part of the factory settings of smartphones to show GPS coordinates.

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State-funded programme to replace outdated devices 

Orbán will not be able to download a webpage or read his emails from 30 June. That is because 3G will be shut down in Hungary. We will be able to use a Nokia 6700 for dialling but browsing with high-speed internet will not be possible.

Interestingly, Orbán is eligible to take part in the state-funded mobile device replacement programme. According to the National Media and Infocommunications Authority’s (NMHH) declaration, “outdated 3G-enabled mobile devices can be replaced with modern, at least 4G-enabled phones at almost 700 dealerships managed by 50 dealers all around Hungary. The programme is managed by the NMHH which

will provide a 20,00 HUF (EUR 50) grant for buying a new device.

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Every natural person who has an active device enabling no higher than 3G reception and has a place of residence in Hungary is eligible for the grant, they added.

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