Vodafone, EE, BT Mobile and Plusnet confirm 3G shutdown date

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Several UK network providers have announced plans to shut down 3G services – a move that could have devastating effects on rural communities.

Vodafone has set a deadline to turn off the 3G network by the end of 2023.

This comes after it was confirmed in 2021 to phase out 3G services by 2023 for customers on EE, BT Mobile and Plusnet.

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Vodafone, which has about 18 million customers, pledges that “no one will be left behind” as it focuses on expanding 4G and 5G networks.

But, according to the Guardian, the company has admitted that there are hundreds of thousands of customers who have stuck with their 3G phones.

It is estimated that more than two million people are still using 3G phones across all UK mobile networks.

This is particularly worrisome for those who live in rural areas – such as parts of North Wales where EE and Vodafone are ranked as the best coverage, according to RootMetrics.

People, especially the elderly, who may not be tech-savvy or comfortable using smartphones, may be at risk of being disconnected and left behind.

According to OfCom data, mobile coverage is improving across Wales, but some rural areas still lack “decent service”.

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In June last year, North Wales Live published a map showing the increase in 4G coverage coming to North Wales after the UK government announced a significant increase in high-speed and mobile broadband services.

In North Wales, the area covered should see the transition from 63% to 83%.

You can check the mobile networks available for your zip code on the OfCom website here.

To expand mobile coverage, BT’s mobile network, EE, is pushing 4G connectivity deeper into rural areas, adding more than 4,500 square miles of new signals by 2025.

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They also plan to take advantage of expanded 4G infrastructure, so 5G will exceed 4G’s geographic range to become the UK’s largest digital network by 2028, providing a signal to more than 90% of the UK.

Other leading UK mobile operators Three, Virgin Media and O2, have not announced plans to discontinue 3G services.

Ahmed Essam, CEO of Vodafone UK, said: “We are starting to communicate with customers about this.

“Our goal is for everyone to stay in touch, and we’ll do everything we can to make sure that is.

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“There are people who are not confident in technology. We want to ensure that everyone gets the help they need, so that we are not left behind.”

Philip Janssen, chief executive of BT Group, previously said: “Over the past 18 months, we have helped the UK meet the demands of the pandemic.

“We must now look forward to providing the strongest foundations to drive future growth. We are committed to a unique, long-term ambition to drive high-performance 5G performance even more and faster, integrating it at its core with our fiber network for a seamless customer experience.”

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