The 3G mobile network shutdown has begun in New Zealand, paving the way for newer technologies to refarm resources to be more efficient. The country’s three major telcos, namely, Spark, 2degrees, and One NZ, will soon completely phase out 3G networks to work on 4G and 5G expansion and upgradation works.
3G shutdown timeline in New Zealand
2degrees has started the 3G shutdown on December 14. One NZ follows starting January 20 from Dunedin, then in Auckland and Wellington in March. Spark will do so on March 31. So, it’s only a matter of a few months before the once-darling mobile network will beam the signals for the last time in the country.
The industry experts have issued a last warning to users who might be affected by the 3G network phase-out.
Telecommunications Forum chief executive Paul Brislen says that while many won’t see a noticeable difference with the discontinuation of 3G, those using wired devices like home security systems or using older phones might feel an impact. With modern smartphones coming with 4G support at least, switching off 3G is likely not cause major disservice.
“It was introduced way back when the iPhones first launched,” Brislen told Morning Report.
“So, it’s getting quite long in the tooth now, it’s very old, it doesn’t do what everybody wants it to do, and all around the world, networks are switching it off this year.”
Also: 4G vs VoLTE: Find Differences, Performance, Coverage, More
3G is increasingly less relevant in New Zealand
Spark says that 3G contributes to less than 2% of data traffic in its network, while 3G voice calling also dropped by 85% since 2019. These days, people can use VoLTE over 4G, so older voice services are being phased out of users’ cellular communications.
By letting go of 3G, the government and the telcos will be able to refarm the spectrum for 4G and 5G, which will strengthen mobile broadband and will bring tremendous transformation for users, industries, and government agencies.