Key points:
- Android 14 introduces advanced cellular security measures, becoming the first OS to do so.
- 2G support can now be disabled in managed devices to counter security vulnerabilities associated with false base stations and downgrading attacks.
- A new feature disables support for null-ciphered cellular connections, enhancing communication privacy.
- Android 12 had already introduced a modem-level 2G disabling feature for Pixel 6 and other Android devices.
- Android’s efforts to enhance cellular security encompass collaborations with internal teams, academic groups, and industry standards bodies.
If somehow you are in a place with no better signal than 2G, you cannot make calls/send SMS if you cannot join 2G cells.
But it is very rare to end up in such a situation these days.