Only 3,000 of Three’s 16,000 network masts, were 3G only. These were not only upgraded to 4G and 5G; the software of many were also upgraded with Multi-Operator Core Network technology. This enables Vodafone customers to use their signal – a key initial phase of VodafoneThree’s plan to build the UK’s best network.

The milestone makes Three the latest UK mobile network operator to fully retire 3G as part of the transition to 5G The operator confirmed that all 3G services are now offline, with customers instead served by its 4G and 5G networks.

Three first announced plans to withdraw 3G services several years ago to re-farm spectrum to improve network performance and support growing demand for faster data services. The move frees up spectrum that can now be redeployed to 4G and 5G,.

The change is expected to be seamless for practiacally all customers . Three said that most devices on its network already support 4G calling) and mobile data, Customers still using older, 3G-only handsets will need to upgrade.

The government has acked operators’ plans to retire legacy networks, arguing that maintaining multiple generations of technology is costly, inefficient and environmentally unsustainable.

Three’s move follows similar actions by other UK networks, with Vodafone and EE already well advanced in their own 3G shutdown programmes. The focus for operators now shifts to ensuring customers are fully migrated and accelerating investment in next-generation networks.

]]> https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/three-3g-network-shuts-down-for-good/feed/ 0 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/virgin-media-o2-scotland-3g-switch-off-starts-next-week/ https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/news/article/virgin-media-o2-scotland-3g-switch-off-starts-next-week/#respond Mon, 27 Oct 2025 10:53:11 +0000 https://mobilenewscwp.co.uk/?p=179190 Virgin Media O2 is urging residents across Scotland to prepare for the next stage of its nationwide 3G switch-off, which begins next week. 

The switch-off will begin in the east of Scotland, including Aberdeen and Dundee, before rolling out nationwide. The network says the vast majority of customers already use 4G or 5G devices and will not need to take any action. However, Virgin Media O2 is directly contacting those still using older 3G-only handsets to advise them on upgrading.

Vulnerable customers are being offered a free 4G phones while others can upgrade to a new handset or SIM at a discounted rate. Customers who do not upgrade will still be able to make calls and send texts, but mobile data services will no longer be available.

Virgin Media O2 says 3G now carries less than two per cent of network data traffic. The spectrum freed up by the switch-off will be used to boost 4G and 5G performance. The company as upgraded more than 180 Scottish sites through the Shared Rural Network programme.

Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2 (below), said: “ 3G will soon be a thing of the past. Customers in Scotland who still use older devices should take action now to stay connected.”

This follows earlier 3G switch-offs in parts of England. The operator plans to close its entire 3G network by the end of 2025, in line with a 2021 government and industry agreement.

Virgin Media O2’s 3G network was launched more than 20 years ago but now accounts for less than two per cent of total data traffic. Reallocating spectrum to 4G and 5G will support faster data speeds, higher quality voice calls, and improved reliability, the company said. Some 3G spectrum has already been repurposed for 5G, with upgraded sites live in Durham and further rollouts planned in the coming months.

Virgin Media O2 has also upgraded masts across Scotland, including more than 180 sites under the Shared Rural Network programme. The company invests around £2 million per day to meet rising demand for data.

Jeanie York, Virgin Media O2’s Chief Technology Officer, said: “3G will soon be replaced by faster, more reliable, and more energy-efficient 4G and 5G networks. We have already withdrawn 3G in several UK locations, and in November we’ll be turning our attention to large areas of Scotland.”

The switch-off will also affect MVNOs such as Tesco Mobile and giffgaff..

Earlier this year, Virgin Media O2 strengthened its spectrum position with a £343m acquisition of 78.8 MHz, bringing its total holding to around 30% of the UK market.

The company first announced its 3G retirement plans two years ago. It says 4G now covers 99 per cent of the UK population, while 5G availability has reached 77 per cent.

The analysis highlights the environmental and economic implications of decommissioning legacy network technologies, with millions of devices rendered obsolete and valuable raw materials at stake.

The report predicts that the 3G switch-off on the VMO2 network will affect approximately 4.3 million people across the UK, potentially generating 70,516 kilograms of e-waste—equivalent to the weight of nearly six double-decker buses. Researchers estimate a total material value of £13,769,488, with metals like copper, silver, gold, and palladium contributing significantly to this figure:

Copper 68,800 kilograms – £509,808

Silver 1,505 kilograms – £1,223,535

Gold 146 kilograms – £10,397,184

Palladium 65 kilograms – £1,638,961

Mark Hall,waste management expert at BusinessWaste.co.uk, said:

“The decision to switch off 3G and 2G networks will inevitably lead to a huge amount of e-waste and leave a significant impact on our environment. E-waste is the world’s fastest-growing solid waste stream, with more than 50 million tonnes generated globally each year.

The good news is that the majority of materials in devices are recyclable. By recycling old phones, businesses and consumers can reduce their carbon footprint, minimize landfill waste, and mitigate harmful environmental effects from hazardous substances leaking into soil and ecosystems.”

Respondents were asked:

 ‘In 2023 mobile providers will start to switch off their 3G networks to focus on 4G and 5G. Were you aware of this before today?

Fifty one per cent said they didn’t know. Around 27 per cent of people surveyed knew 3G was for the chop.

Networks will switch off 2G and 3G over the next decade to free up spectrum for 4G and 5G.

EE also plans to start its switch-off in early 2024 Three aims to switch off its entire 3G network by the end of 2024. O2 has not yet announced plans but the Government has requested all 3G networks to be closed by 2033.

Vodafone’s 3G shutdown started this month and will apply to its MVNOs including Lebara Mobile, Asda Mobile, Talk Mobile and VOXI,

“3G is used by more than 30 million people. Our research shows more than 15 million aren’t aware it is being phased out or how this will impact their ability to get online. Focusing investment on 4G and 5G networks is a sensible move, However it’s important to make those relying on 3G networks are not caught unaware said uSwitch head of commerce; for broadband and mobile Ernest Doku

Vodafone’s 3G switch-off starts next month following successful pilot trials across Plymouth and Basingstoke in February. 3G coverage will be phased out and replaced by improved 4G and 5G services. Vodafone’s 2G network, which covers over 99 per cent of the UK population, will remain for calls and texts.

The phased switch-off starts in Hull, Oxford and Greater London before progressing across the South. The remainder of the UK will follow later in the year

The end of the 3G network is part of Vodafone UK’s strategy to reach Net Zero in four years as 5G networks are said to be energy efficient. A terabyte of data sent over 5G uses just seven per cent of the energy as a 3G network says Vodafone

Vodafone has partnered with charities and other third parties, to support those needing extra support. Ofcom has set up a web site page explaining the 3G switch off.

This includes working with We Are Digital, a social impact organisation, manned by advisors who can help callers to set up a phone or tablet. The Digital Skills Helpline is free to call from any UK mobile or landline, and is open to everyone, whether or not they are Vodafone customers.

Vodafone’s Network Director Andrea Dona, said:

“3G use has already dropped significantly as most of Vodafone’s customers now use the 4G network. Less than four per cent of the data is used on our 3G network, in comparison to more than 30 per cent in 2016”.

“We’re also improving our 4G and 5G coverage. Now is the time to say goodbye to 3G and focus on the current benefits and future possibilities of our 4G and 5G networks.” 

Customers who want to know more about the Vodafone 3G switch-off programme at www.vodafone.co.uk/3G-switch-off or by visiting their local Vodafone store.  

Around 5.5 million mobile phone customers using 2G and 3G devices will soon need to replace them as the networks start to move all connectivity over to 4AG and 5G says Ofcom. In its advice to networks on how to manage the switch off, Ofcom reckons this is around six per cent of all mobile subscriptions.

“Three does not have a 2G network, so customers with older devices using its network will need to replace their devices ahead of its 3G switch-off to ensure they can continue to access all their services. Customers who do not upgrade their device ahead of Three’s 3G switch-off will only be able to make emergency calls from their old device” says Ofcom in its document “3G and 2G switch-off Our expectations of mobile providers

“The older customers are, the more likely they are to have an older device. Ten per cent of the over 45s said they have a mobile phone that is older than ten years compared to four per cent of those aged 16-44.”

Ofcom expects the real-world effect of the 2G/3G switch-off is likely to be negligible. Ofcom does not have a formal regulatory role in the switch-off process itself. It says it wants to ensure that customers are treated fairly and can continue to access the services they need with minimal disruption

“ It will also be particularly important that vulnerable customers are protected and receive the support they need during switch-off. We believe we can play a role in helping to ensure that these aims are met”.

Ofcom will be meeting regularly with networks to get updates on their switch-off progress, including the steps they are taking to communicate with customers, how they are meeting their obligations to support vulnerable consumers and how they are taking account of the expectations set out in this document.

“Most mobile providers have stopped selling 3G-only devices. But some are still being sold. When customers are purchasing a new device which is only 3G capable it will be important for those selling the device to indicate that those devices will not work on all MNO networks in future, from 2024 onwards for 3G) to ensure customers are not misled.

“t is also important for customers to understand how 2G and 3G switch-offs happening in other countries may impact their roaming experience when travelling, particularly for those on older devices or which are not yet VoLTE-enabled

Full Ofcom report HERE

BT has given an update on its progress from last year’s network vision where it outlined goals for the company to complete over a certain period of time.

The company’s network ambition is to have 5G connectivity anywhere in the UK by 2028 and a fully converged network in the UK by the mid 2020’s. 

During the presentation, chief technology officer Howard Watson said that it has made progress with its 4G coverage by expanding the rural reach by a further 1,000 sq miles since last year, and covers 86 per cent of the UK population. 

5G network update

BT has covered half the UK population with 5G coverage a year ahead of its 2023 schedule, and there are seven million 5G-ready customers.

Watson said that BT is building an unbeatable 5G network and has tested out its capabilities in extreme circumstances.

“We tried out the 5G technology during Storm Arwin and through this year’s heatwave to see how it could deploy mobile coverage solutions in much harder to get to areas, and it worked,” he said.

Last year, BT promised that it would develop a new 5G core and go live in 2022, with the service fully launched in 2023, and now the first few customers have been transferred to the core.

Watson also provided an update on the Huawei situation, as BT and other providers have had to switch 4G suppliers.

“We have reduced dependence on Huawei and have swapped to Ericsson or Nokia equipment, and we’re on track to meet the July 2023 deadline to limit our reliance on Huawei,” he said.

Legacy

BT is moving all of its customers off of legacy products such as 3G networks, copper broadband and copper phones, to secure a full closure of legacy platforms.

It aims to have all customers off of 3G by the end of 2023 and the entire network to be sunsetting from 2024.

Watson said the copper broadband is down to the last few thousand customers as Openreach is rolling out fibre-to-the-premises (FTTP) as its replacement.

“There is not much demand or need for 3G right now and customers are being contacted to be moved to 4G or 5G and we should have all customers moved by December,” he said.

“The PSTN switch off is also looming and should be completed by 2025.”

In the future, Watson revealed that BT wants to become a market leader in 5G with 90pc geo coverage by 2028, as well as becoming a market leader in full fibre by reaching 25 million premises by 2026.

Three UK claims that it has the UK’s biggest coverage of 5G connectivity across the country.

The operator says it has reached 54 per cent coverage, with the service available in more than 400 locations across more than 3,000 sites.

Three has invested heavily in 5G as part of its £2bn network transformation.

It comes as EE recently announced it has surpassed 5G network coverage of 50 per cent.

Three UK has also claimed that it has the UK’s fastest 5G network, something that is independently verified by Ookla.

Three UK chief technology officer David Hennessy said: “We are relentlessly focussed on delivering the UK’s biggest and fastest 5G network for the UK. Millions of mobile, business and home broadband customers across more than half the UK’s population are able to access our superfast speeds enabling them to live their digital lives to the fullest.”

The operator plans to switch off its 3G network by the end of 2024 and has also upgrading its 4G network with thousands of sites, which will serve customers with up to 150 per cent faster speeds.

Three UK has announced it will switch off the UK’s first 3G network by the end of 2024 as it further invests in 4G and 5G.

The move will allow the network to focus on improving 4G and rolling out 5G which is a £2bn commitment to the UK.

The target date for the 3G switch off arrives just over two decades after Three launched 3G in the UK on March 3 2003 (03-03-03). 

Three UK’s ‘Mobile Britain 2022’ study revealed that 5G usage has already exceeded 3G as the number of 5G devices on its network has quadrupled- and is expected to rise. 

3G handsets are predicted to decline as faster 4G and 5G handsets are introduced, and there is a greater need for faster, newer technologies as demand for data has increased 20 per cent year-on-year.

Three UK chief technology officer David Hennessy said: “3G kick-started the mobile revolution – and launched Three into the UK 20 years ago – but the future is undoubtedly 5G. 

“As we continue to roll out our ultrafast connectivity, by not only upgrading our existing 4G sites but building new 5G sites, we’ll be in a position to switch off our use of 3G across our network by the end of 2024.

“As the leader in 5G deployment and the fastest network as rated by Ookla®, we are focused on delivering our goal of providing better connectivity, every day, for every customer.”

As the date of 3G switch off approaches, customers with an older 3G-only device or non VoLTE voice device will be supported by Three to ensure they stay connected.