UK to Shut Down 2G and 3G Networks by 2033

[MacRumors]

The United Kingdom will phase out and turn off its 2G and 3G networks by 2033, the British government today announced (via TechRadar).

BT already committed to ending its 3G service by 2023, but now all major carriers in the UK are in agreement to retire 2G and 3G over the next decade. The networks are due to be switched off as part of plans to accelerate the roll out of 5G across the country. The UK government added that the move also paves the way for future 6G services.

While the number of people reliant on 2G and 3G networks is relatively low, retiring them will allow operators to reclaim spectrum to be used in 4G and 5G networks, as well as save money being spent on powering and maintaining inefficient legacy equipment. 2G may remain in use for longer than 3G because it offers wide coverage and comparatively low power requirements which make it ideal for some IoT deployments.

In the United States, carriers have begun a similar process, with Verizon planning to shut down its 3G network on December 31, 2022.

While the original iPhone from 2007 supported 2G networks, the iPhone did not support 3G until the device's second generation. Such was the importance of 3G connectivity to the second-generation iPhone that it was called the "iPhone 3G." The iPhone did not get 4G until the launch of the iPhone 5 in 2012, and the drive toward 5G across the industry did not gather pace until the launch of the iPhone 12 lineup last year.

Article Link: UK to Shut Down 2G and 3G Networks by 2033

 

[Kylo83]

why not now 4g and 5g is enough why wait over 10 years

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

RIP 3G. So many memories. I remember when 3G was a big thing and dominated the world.

Way ahead of its time. Anyone remembers this.

 

[dguisinger]

2033?? Who still has hardware they are using from that era?

 

[azentropy]

2033? Thanks for the heads up!

 

[quatermass]

Oh no.... this is a disaster! I'll finally have to retire my trusty iPhone 4S! ??

 

[TheYayAreaLiving 🎗️]

2033?? Who still has hardware they are using from that era?

2033? Thanks for the heads up!

Maybe they are preparing us to get rid of that iPhone 3G network and upgrade, 😂

 

[editfmah]

why not now 4g and 5g is enough why wait over 10 years

Because anyone with a Nissan Leaf (2012-2018), Renault Zoe (2013-2020) (That I will personally experience), or any car with a modem & live traffic between 2007 - 2018 will likely be stuffed. I know my Audi A6 used GPRS for this.

 

[User 6502]

Because anyone with a Nissan Leaf (2012-2018), Renault Zoe (2013-2020) (That I will personally experience), or any car with TMC live traffic between 2007 - 2018 will be stuffed.

I am quite sure that’s not the reason.

 

[827538]

This seems like a stupidly long time. The only reason I can think of are electricity meters.

2G and 3G are incredibly inefficient technologies with major drawbacks that see little use. It's time to move fully to 4G and 5G as they are packet switched networks.

 

[User 6502]

RIP 3G. So many memories. I remember when 3G was a big thing and dominated the world.

Way ahead of its time. Anyone remembers this.

iPhone became 3G white late compared with the competitors, not sure how it was ahead of its time.

 

[GenesisST]

why not now 4g and 5g is enough why wait over 10 years

The alarm system in my old house used 3G to be connected. If I still had it, I would like the long heads up, because I'd rather spend on LEGOs than a new alarm system.

 

[editfmah]

I am quite sure that’s not the reason.

I wasn't a reason, it was an answer to "why not just turn it off now".

 

[DougieS]

why not now 4g and 5g is enough why wait over 10 years

Where I live in UK, there are places where 3G is faster than 4G, and zero 5G.
Have to manually switch over sometimes, also 4G seems to be affected by the wind more than 3G, so areas where 4G is okay becomes unusable but 3G still gave me a connection.

 

[chr1s60]

iPhone 1 owners are furious.

 

[827538]

Where I live in UK, there are places where 3G is faster than 4G, and zero 5G.
Have to manually switch over sometimes, also 4G seems to be affected by the wind more than 3G, so areas where 4G is okay becomes unusable but 3G still gave me a connection.

4G is affected by wind and 3G is not? Unless it's somehow moving trees to block your signal that's not how it works. Also most 3G masts and the accompanying spectrum will be replaced with 4G/5G equipment.

 

[kurosov]

I wasn't a reason, it was an answer to "why not just turn it off now".

Though it is the reason.

There are millions of devices deployed in both commercial and consumer markets that still rely on the networks, that being just one example. Shutting them down without warning would have serious knock-on effects.

 

[alien3dx]

our country this month last 3g. I don't know why the hype of 5G . i don't need one.I have fibre. 4G on outside enough. if the provider really provide 4g+ speed, everybody should happy enough

 

[Dolmio]

why not now 4g and 5g is enough why wait over 10 years

I guess if using for voice / emergency services . 2G still has signal in places I.e rural areas where there is no 4g/5g . I think they shutting down 3G fairly soon

 

[dontwalkhand]

2033?? Who still has hardware they are using from that era?

Buses, trains, rural traffic signals, digital signage, and much more.

 

[tooloud10]

I am quite sure that’s not the reason.

I gotta know, if the prevalence of legacy equipment that relies on the 2G/3G network isn't the reason for the lengthy shutdown schedule, what exactly do you think is?

 

[HappyDude20]

So it’s not a typo and it really is 2033?

Cause if so that’s awesome. That’s over ten years away.

If it is a typo then this confirms MacRumors doesn’t even spellcheck and just spew news out as quickly as possible.

 

[jlc1978]

why not now 4g and 5g is enough why wait over 10 years

Per TFA, there still are lots of deices, beyond phones, that use them. Since they are likely not upgradeable that means a whole lot of stuff people use and may depend on suddenly stops working. In addition, they provide coverage in areas without 4 or 5G.

This seems like a stupidly long time. The only reason I can think of are electricity meters.

And alarm systems. And some cars. There is more than just phones that use older tech.

2G and 3G are incredibly inefficient technologies with major drawbacks that see little use.

But those that do my have value or be hard to replace overnight. For example, some fuel pumps may still use them, which means suddenly cutting it off would mean no more pay at the pump or automated stations in some cases; not to mention data they transmit such as fuel pumped now needs to be done by hand instead of automating refills as tanks get drained.

It's time to move fully to 4G and 5G as they are packet switched networks.

Not quite yet. M2M needs to be worked out to allow a smooth transition.

 

[ScrumpyDaniel]

why not now 4g and 5g is enough why wait over 10 years

Because funnily enough over here, not everywhere has 4G & 5G coverage yet. And lots of places that do.... the coverage is awful!! Try my hometown Ipswich for example. Woeful coverage by all the networks.

 

[ACDeag]

why not now 4g and 5g is enough why wait over 10 years

There are 24 million smart energy meters using 2G/3G that have to be replaced before they can switch them off.