VODAFONE users could be left without internet in just a few weeks as the firm makes a major change.
The phone network will switch off its 3G network across the UK – which means customers whose phones don’t support 4G or 5G will need to get a new one.
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Most customers already use 4G or 5G, and the firm said that the switch will allow 3G radio frequencies to be used by the “faster and more efficient” services.
Vodafone’s Andrea Dona told the Mail: “Our focus remains to continue to build the UK’s most reliable mobile network and to continue to do this, we need to ensure our technologies are fit for purpose.
“Now is the time to say goodbye to 3G and focus on the current benefits and future possibilities of our 4G and 5G networks.”
Although only four per cent of customer data is used on Vodafone’s 3G network – down from 30 per cent in 2016 – seven per cent of UK adults say it is the only network they can access.
Vodafone ran “switch-off” pilots in Plymouth and Basingstoke back in February.
The national shut-down of the 3G network will start in June with Hull, Oxford and London the first areas to lose it.
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The 2G network will remain in place for calls and texts, but customers won’t be able to access data on it.
Phones which haven’t been switched from 3G to 4G or 5G when the network goes offline will automatically switch to 2G – which is itself set to disappear by 2033.
The multinational telecommunications company also said the move was part of plans to help it reach net-zero carbon emissions by 2027, with the more modern 5G network more than 10 times as energy efficient as old 3G equipment.
Vodafone CEO Ahmed Essam said: “We’re building the UK’s most reliable mobile network and focusing on the technologies that best connect our customers and have the least impact on the environment.
“We’re going to be focused on giving customers a faster and more reliable mobile experience – and minimising our impact on the environment by taking away a layer of our network that uses inefficient equipment.
“We start communicating to customers about this today – our goal is for everyone to stay connected, and we’ll be doing everything we can to make sure that’s the case.”
Vodafone’s 3G service was launched 17 years ago and nearly 500 billion minutes of calls have been made on the wireless technology.
That’s the equivalent of 951,293 calendar years.
Helen Milner OBE, Group Chief Executive at Good Things Foundation said: “With the move away from 3G, people risk being disconnected, locked out and left behind. That’s why we’re so pleased to be working with Vodafone to ensure as many people as possible continue to have the essential digital access they need.
“The pandemic demonstrated the importance of technology that keeps people connected. Healthcare, education, and the economy all depend on people across the UK having a reliable data connection.
“This transition to 4G and 5G for every Vodafone customer is a vital part of ensuring everyone has the digital access they need.
To help ensure a smooth transition to 4G and 5G, Vodafone UK will use the Vodafone Group’s experience in retiring 3G networks, with successful projects already carried out in Germany and Italy.
