2degrees will start shutting off its 3G services this Sunday, 14 December, and plans to decommission the service at around 100 sites this month.
All of these sites are part of the Rural Connectivity Group network, said 2degrees CEO Mark Callander, adding the impact of the shutdown on users in those areas is likely to be minimal.
“3G usage on RCG sites is actually rather small, with most people connecting via 4G,” he said.
“We have been urging customers to get ready for this shutdown, and the time to take action is now. 3G is an old technology now, and it’s being closed down internationally.”
While the telco first announced its plan to decommission 3G services in July 2023 and has been repeatedly communicating with impacted customers since, Callander said there may still be a few stragglers caught out by the shutdown.
“Human nature being what it is, some people will be waiting until the last minute to upgrade an old device,” he said and urged users to check devices, including medical or security alarms, to make sure they are ready for the transition.
Phones can be checked for 4G capability by texting 3G to 550. For those who need a replacement device, the telco has 4G handsets available for under $70.
2degrees undertook a major upgrade of its sites over the past few years, enhancing 4G and adding 5G equipment, Callander said.
“The next generation of mobile services – 4G and 5G – are designed for modern mobile use, whether that’s streaming, video calls, or running multiple apps and programmes all requiring data,” he said.
“Modern networks need to be faster, more resilient, and more sustainable. 3G simply can’t deliver the performance New Zealand now relies on.”
Further 3G services would be decommissioned early in 2026, Callander added.
“By retiring this legacy technology, we can focus on strengthening and expanding our 4G and 5G networks which carry the vast majority of today’s mobile traffic.”
Both Spark and One NZ also plan to shut down their 3G networks soon. One NZ will do so by the end of this year, while Spark’s will shut down on 31 March 2026.
Source: https://www.reseller.co.nz/article/4104594/2degrees-3g-shutdown-starts-this-weekend.html
