The UK’s major network operators, Vodafone, EE, O2, and Three, have recently announced their plans to phase out 3G and 2G services within the next decade – as part of their ongoing agreement with the government regarding UK mobile network connectivity.
The final shutdown of these services is expected to take place by 2033, but providers have the freedom to choose their specific timelines within this broader framework.
The operators’ current timelines.
Vodafone has already taken the lead by initiating a pilot for the 3G switch-off in February 2023 and plans to commence the shutdown across the UK from June 2023. However, Vodafone has assured that its 2G network will remain operational for calls and texts.
EE, on the other hand, has conducted trials for the phase-out of 3G services in 2023 and is planning to fully close down the network between January and March 2024. The company has also indicated that its 2G services will be discontinued later in the decade.
Three, which originally launched as the UK’s first 100% 3G network, expects to have ceased its 3G offering by the end of 2024. It is important to note that Three never operated a 2G network.
O2 has also announced its plans to begin phasing out 3G services in 2025 but has not yet made any official statements regarding the future of its 2G network. Consequently, O2 is set to be the only provider still offering 3G network services throughout 2024.
Customers using devices that do not support 4G or 5G may face limitations in making calls, including to emergency services, and using data roaming while abroad. Therefore, as the industry undergoes this significant transformation, customers still using 3G devices are urged to consider upgrading to compatible devices to ensure continued access to mobile data services.
For more information on EE’s 3G switch-off plans, visit their official announcement on the EE website: We’re Switching Off Our 3G Network (ee.co.uk)
