The Department of Information and Communications Technology (DICT) confirmed that third-generation mobile networks, or 3G, will be fully phased out in the Philippines by 2026 as major operators Smart Communications and Globe Telecom shift spectrum resources to 4G and 5G services.
In a statement carried by ABS-CBN News on Sept. 19, DICT said, “We expect the phase-out of 3G networks by end of September, with complete decommissioning by 2026 to reallocate spectrum for more advanced mobile technologies.”
The announcement marks the end of a wireless standard that once defined mobile internet access in the country. Licensed in 2005 and rolled out by Smart and Globe by 2008, 3G allowed millions of Filipinos to browse the web, send emails, and make video calls from their phones. It also powered the early surge of Facebook and social media use in the country, according to a 2005 report by Phys.org.
But as demand for faster connections grew, 3G fell behind. By the mid-2010s, most mobile users had shifted to 4G LTE, while 5G networks have been expanding in recent years. The International Telecommunication Union (ITU) describes 3G under its IMT-2000 standards as delivering peak speeds of a few megabits per second, far slower than what modern networks now provide.
Smart Communications, part of PLDT, began scaling back its 3G network as early as 2020. In July 2025, the Manila Bulletin reported that Smart was reducing its remaining 3G coverage to “maximize the benefits of LTE and 5G.” Globe Telecom, meanwhile, discontinued the sale of 3G SIM cards in 2020, DevelopingTelecoms.com reported. Globe later released customer guides explaining how subscribers could upgrade their devices and SIM cards for uninterrupted service.
Globe said in one of its notices: “All new Globe SIMs are 4G LTE- or 5G-ready, ensuring that our customers enjoy faster and better mobile data services.”
The DICT has been pushing the shutdown through its “Konektadong Pinoy Act,” which encourages the reallocation of spectrum from legacy systems to next-generation technologies. MobileIDWorld reported that the Philippines is following the global trend, with many countries already dismantling their 3G networks to improve capacity and efficiency.
Analysts warn, however, that the transition may leave some Filipinos behind. Older handsets that rely on 3G, as well as rural areas with patchy LTE coverage, could lose service unless operators expand their modern networks nationwide.
Despite the risks, industry experts say the shutdown is inevitable. “Maintaining 3G no longer makes sense given the changing needs of our customers,” a Smart spokesperson said in July.
As the 3G era ends, the spectrum it once occupied will fuel the country’s 4G and 5G rollout, providing faster speeds and lower latency for mobile users. Still, for many Filipinos, 3G will be remembered as the network that carried their first digital experiences—from sending selfies to making video calls with family abroad.
