Why are 3G networks being switched off in the UK? Goodbye 3G - 3G shutdown

[@James_Knott]

I'm on Rogers, in Canada. Both 2G & 3G are gone from 1.9 GHz, but are still on 850 MHz. As far as I know, 3G is supposed to be dropped entirely in Dec. 2025, but no date yet for shutting down 2G. As for 2G using lower frequencies, 4G & 5G both use 600 MHz on Rogers and 4G is also on 700 MHz. The 1.9 GHz band is now 4G. The highest frequency Rogers currently uses is 3.5 GHz for 5G only.

[@ca09z]

A small note about 2G and indoors coverage in the UK: Only Vodafone and O2 use low bands for 2G (900 MHz in their case). EE (well, Orange and T-Mobile before them) didn't have low bands and deployed 2G using band 3/1800 MHz, which also required them to create a more dense network. So their 4G and 5G coverage is often better because they use, among other bands, B20/800 MHz for 4G and n28/700 MHz for 5G.

[@MikeTwomey-z2s]

Seriously? There is still 2G in the U.K and U.S.A???? Here in Australia we lost that network years ago! Next in line for us here is the 3G that will be at the end of October no one here is sure just how it will go when they turn it off but there will probably be many other devices affected will just have to wait and see.

[@Tafara_Shumba]

Thanks, the video was really insightful but could you please explain why on an operator's perspective 3G has to be removed rather than use it as a hybrid network with 2G, 4G and 5G using compound antennas.

[@CommsbriefLimitedOfficial]

That’s because maintaining multiple technologies is not in the best interest of mobile operators in terms of efficiency. By phasing out the older technologies, they can utilise/re-farm the spectrum for newer technologies that offer much better value to customers. 2G and 3G networks are mainly good for voice calls which uses circuit switching and different radio access technologies which don’t use the network as efficiently as newer technologies do. So growing 4G and 5G and phasing out 2G and 3G makes business sense for operators. They just need to make sure they do it in the best way i.e. use those resources for newer networks with minimal disruption.

[@James_Knott]

3G wastes spectrum that could be better used for 4G & 5G. On the other hand 4G & 5G can nicely share spectrum, with something called dynamic spectrum sharing (DSS).

[@Tafara_Shumba]

@@James_Knott thanks, let me look up DSS.

[@unknownwolf8555]

They already shutdown 3G network in USA my modem been having issues ever since so may get worse when Tmobile shutdown 2G

[@CommsbriefLimitedOfficial]

When are T-Mobile US shutting down 2G, April this year? I don't think your modem should be impacted much (if at all) by the 2G shut down because you only get EDGE with GSM with very low data rates. Hopefully you have decent LTE or 5G coverage to take care of your data needs.

[@unknownwolf8555]

@CommsbriefLimitedOfficial I know when 3G shutdown February 2022 I was having issues with it staying connected still does disconnect my provider UScellular phased it out on there network it's Netgear Orbi LBR20 3G/4G I'm just worried about it not working when final 2G is gone cause UScellular and Tmobile use Same bands 71 and 77 My modem only 4G only now still disconnect certain times