January 10th 2025.
In a move that may come as a surprise to many, O2 has announced that they will be shutting down their 3G service later this year. This means that millions of Brits could potentially lose access to the internet on their mobile phones in the near future.
The change will not only affect O2 customers, but also those on other networks that use the same infrastructure, such as Tesco Mobile, Giffgaff, and Sky Mobile. Three, Vodafone, and EE have already made the switch, and now O2 is following suit.
According to O2, the decision to switch off 3G is due to the fact that it has been superseded by the faster and more efficient 4G and 5G networks. By investing in these newer technologies, O2 hopes to provide their customers with quicker download speeds and higher quality voice calls.
For now, O2 assures their customers that there will be no immediate changes, and they will be notified with more information closer to the time of the switch-off. However, it is important for users to check if their phone will be affected by this change.
If you have an old iPhone, such as the first generation, 3G, or 3GS, or a Samsung ZV60, Binou, or SGH-X830, your phone may no longer have access to the internet once the 3G service is switched off. Other devices from brands like Sony, Oneplus, LG, Doro, Google, Xiaomi, OPPO, Huawei, Motorola, Nokia, and Alcatel may also be affected.
Ernest Doku, a telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, explains that this decision is necessary in order to free up capacity for the growing 4G and 5G networks. While most customers already have a compatible device, those with older phones will need to upgrade this year. Fortunately, there are plenty of affordable options available, including refurbished devices, for those who don't want to spend a lot on a new phone.
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