If you're in a country where GSM is native it's quite likely that 2G is still available. 3G probably got shut down in the meantime but 2G doesn't need much spectrum and is kept as a baseline compatibility protocol, possibly even mandated by law (because emergency services). It's also perfectly sufficient for voice calls. Internet is... tolerable if all you're doing is browsing wikipedia and doing email. It's easily twice as fast as a 56k modem what are you complaining about.
I’ve still got a 3310 in a drawer, it still turns on, and if I had a SIM card for it would be fully working as the UK still operates a 2G network (for now at least).
There’s even removable fascia plates still for sale on eBay.
my old phones (going back all the way to the 'real' nokias) went a full month between charges. the last two with 4g volte suck so much power, it is every 2-3 days now, including my current hmd-made nokia (only a couple weeks old) with same capacity battery as what's stated in the article for the 'new' one.