Dunedin has become the first region where One New Zealand has turned off its 3G services this week.
This is the first phase of the telco’s nationwide 3G network shutdown, which it aims to complete by the end of March, with 3G due to be turned off in the regions first and then Christchurch, Auckland and Wellington
Shutting down the 3G network frees up radio spectrum, so One NZ can boost 4G and 5G services, said chief technology officer Kieran Byrne, adding this week’s shutdown in Dunedin came after years of preparation and customer communication.
“Switching off 3G lets us deploy more of our radio spectrum into 4G and 5G, meaning faster speeds, better coverage and a more reliable network for our customers,” he said.
During 2025, One NZ completed 258 mobile upgrades, with each of its mobile sites now equipped with 4G technology, and a large portion with 5G, Byrne said.
“The good news is most customers are already on 4G and 5G, but if you or someone in your whānau is still using a phone that relies on 3G for calling, now’s the time to upgrade,” he added.
One NZ is offering 4G compatible phones starting at $39, and said users on any mobile network could free text 3G to 550 to check if their phone would work on One NZ’s 4G and 5G networks.
Source: https://www.reseller.co.nz/article/4119551/dunedin-first-to-have-one-nz-3g-switched-off.html
