Bite Latvija (Latvia) has announced that it will begin its 3G switch off. The company will instead repurpose the 3G spectrum towards its 4G and 5G networks.
According to Bite, the first stage of its 3G retirement began in the Zemgale territory on Wednesday evening, continuing into the early hours of Thursday, June 26.
Bite noted that its 3G network will be shut down in Bauska, Dobele, and Jelgava.
Customers have been informed of the transition, stated Bite, which said it has sent text messages and telephone notifications with detailed information about the upcoming changes to residents in Zemgale.
“The 3G shutdown is not just a technical change – it is a logical step in the evolution of mobile communications. By abandoning outdated 3G technology, we will free up frequencies for more powerful 4G and 5G solutions, which provide significantly faster data transmission, more stable connection, and improved call quality," said Aleksandrs Beļajevs, head of the radio network department at Bite Latvija.
Bite said it expects to complete the full shutdown of its 3G network nationwide by spring 2026, concluding in the country's capital, Riga.
Bite first launched its 3G network in Latvia in 2006.
Domestic rival Tele2 completed the retirement of its 3G network earlier this year.
Telcos around the world are moving away from their 3G mobile networks in favor of 4G and 5G, which offer faster speeds, capacity, and are more energy efficient.
Source: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/bite-kicks-off-3g-switch-off-in-latvia/
