Econet Wireless Zimbabwe plans to switch off its 3G network by the end of December 2027 before beginning a phased retirement of 2G, allowing the country's largest mobile operator to redirect spectrum and investment toward its 4G and 5G infrastructure.
The operator said retiring its legacy mobile technologies is intended to improve overall service quality, make more efficient use of available spectrum and bring its network evolution in line with wider global telecom trends.
The move establishes a clear deadline for 3G services, while Econet has not disclosed a final shutdown date for its older 2G network.
3G services to end in December 2027
Econet plans to complete the shutdown of its 3G network by the end of December 2027.
The retirement will allow spectrum currently supporting 3G services to potentially be reused for newer mobile technologies, providing additional capacity for networks carrying growing volumes of mobile data.
The operator intends to follow the 3G switch-off with a phased retirement of 2G.
No timetable for completing the 2G shutdown was provided in the source, suggesting Econet will maintain the older technology beyond the 3G deadline while its migration progresses.
Spectrum to support 4G and 5G investment
Econet said the transition forms part of its effort to accelerate investment in faster 4G and 5G infrastructure.
Legacy network shutdowns can allow operators to consolidate multiple generations of mobile technology and reuse spectrum for networks capable of delivering greater data capacity.
For Econet, the process could also reduce the operational complexity associated with maintaining 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G infrastructure simultaneously.
The source does not specify which 3G spectrum bands Econet intends to repurpose, how that spectrum will be divided between 4G and 5G, or the scale of additional network investment planned.
Customer migration will be a key part of transition
The 2027 deadline gives Econet time to move remaining 3G-dependent customers and services toward newer network technologies.
However, the source does not provide figures for the number of customers still using 2G or 3G devices, smartphone penetration across Econet's customer base or the proportion of its mobile traffic currently carried by each network generation.
It also does not detail whether Econet plans device upgrade programmes or other measures to help customers migrate before the shutdown.
Those factors will be particularly important as the operator approaches the 3G deadline, since users with incompatible devices will need suitable alternatives to continue accessing mobile data services.
2G retirement to follow gradually
Econet's decision to retire 3G before completing its 2G shutdown reflects the continuing role that older mobile technology can play even as operators expand 4G and 5G.
The company has therefore opted for a phased approach to 2G rather than announcing a simultaneous shutdown of both legacy networks.
The source does not provide details on how long 2G will remain operational or which services will continue to depend on it during the transition.
Source: MEA Tech Watch Press Reporter
