New Zealand mobile operator 2degrees has outlined its plans to switch off its 3G service in 2025.
In a statement, the company said it expects to call time on its 3G services in late 2025, in order to focus its effort into its 4G and 5G services.
2degrees launched its 3G service in 2010 and has followed in the footsteps of other New Zealand telcos, One NZ and Spark in setting a retirement date for the service.
“3G has been a reliable technology, but its capability has long since been surpassed by the latest generations, so the time has come to begin to shut down the service,” says 2degrees CEO Mark Callander.
“It’s something that is happening around the globe, with telcos redeploying 3G spectrum for 5G purposes,” Callander said.
The company noted that most users won't be impacted by the switch off, which is due to coincide with Spark's shutdown of the service. One NZ, formerly Vodafone NZ, plans to call time on 3G next year.
A number of operators around the globe have switched 3G services off, with the US trio of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon doing so last year.
