The gradual closure of 3G networks and the transition to more efficient 4G or 5G technologies, a process started by Orange, RCS&RDS and Telekom Mobile in Romania, has been happening for some time in Europe. In more than half of the EU countries, at least one operator has abandoned 3G, others have begun to gradually replace this technology, and in countries such as Hungary, state subsidies have been provided for the purchase of new phones.

3 out of 4 mobile operators in Romania have given up or are about to close their 3G networks

Orange, the leader in the mobile communications market in Romania, recently announced the gradual closure of its 3G network, starting from June this year, and the transition of subscribers to faster and more efficient 4G and 5G technologies.

• “Customers using a 2G/3G device will still be able to use voice and SMS services over the 2G network, but to be able to use the internet service, they will have to replace the device with a 4G or 5G compatible one,” the operator said. announced

3G users are advised to visit stores to have their SIM card checked and replaced with a 4G-compatible one if necessary, and to purchase 4G/5G-compatible phones at special prices and renewal discounts.

Two other mobile operators, Digi/RCS&RDS and Telekom Mobile, told HotNews.ro that they have abandoned 3G since last year.

Telekom Mobile said it supported its customers in the transition to new technologies during the 3G blackout, while Digi/RCS&RDS said it kept prices unchanged and facilitated a free transition to 5G for subscribers.

• “Operators Telekom Romania Mobile Communications and RCS&RDS have already abandoned during 2023 the use of 3G technology in their networks, switching to the use of 4G technology in the frequency bands that were used for 3G until recently (900 MHz and 2100 MHz).” This was reported to HotNews.ro by representatives of the Communications Regulatory Authority (ANCOM).

Vodafone is the only major mobile operator that has not yet announced plans to abandon 3G.

What does disconnection of 3G networks mean? Purchasing 4G or 5G terminals may incur higher costs

The communications regulator told HotNews.ro that the closure of the 3G network involves the decommissioning of base stations that use this technology and the transfer of voice and data traffic from this network to 4G and 5G base stations.

• “To continue using mobile data services, users need to have terminal equipment compatible with new technologies.
• Discontinuance of 3G networks may affect the ability of end users to use legacy mobile equipment on a subscription basis, especially if it was purchased independently and not directly from the mobile operator with which they entered into a service contract.
• Replacing 3G terminals with 4G or 5G terminals may result in higher costs for the user, as equipment using more advanced technologies is more expensive than equipment of previous generations of technology, however, as the equipment market in new technologies consolidates and these technologies are used on a large scale. the price of devices drops significantly.
• The 4G equipment ecosystem has already reached maturity, so 4G terminals are currently available at a reasonable price. The same applies to mobile phone subscriptions for the provision of 4G-compatible services,” ANKOM notes.

The authority says that the discontinuation of 3G technology may have a direct impact on the provision of services included in certain service contracts, in which case providers are required to amend them and ensure that the new provisions have been agreed to by affected customers.

3G deployment is taking place in more than half of the EU member states

The gradual replacement of 3G technology by 4G or 5G is not only happening in Romania, but is a natural process of migration to new technologies, which is manifested at the global and regional levels, according to ANCOM.

• “In more than half of the EU member states, at least one mobile network operator among those present in the respective markets has abandoned the use of 3G technology, and other operators have begun the process of gradually replacing this technology.
• In principle, 3G networks are closing down as 4G/5G networks expand their coverage and bandwidth, becoming capable of providing mobile services in areas currently covered by 3G networks.
• The degree of development of 4G and 5G networks is not the only determining factor in making a decision on the possibility of closing 3G networks, other important factors are the compatibility of existing terminal equipment in networks with 4G/5G technologies and the commercial strategy of each operator,” ANCOM officials informed HotNews.ro .

4G and 5G technologies offer important advantages over 3G, such as: “increased efficiency of spectrum use, higher quality of provided communication services (increased speed of data transfer to the user, low data transfer delay), network bandwidth of increased data, greater variety and flexibility of available services, significantly improved connection reliability, energy efficiency and communication security”.

What happened in other EU countries: Hungary subsidized the cost of new phones

More information on the process of decommissioning 2G and 3G networks at the European level can be found in a report published in December 2023 by BEREC, the European regulatory body for electronic communications, which provides examples from several countries:

• In Hungarymore than 95% of total mobile Internet traffic was based on 4G networks, and with the introduction of VoLTE, voice traffic quickly moved to 4G and reached 62% by the end of 2021.

After consultation with stakeholders, the NMHH (Hungarian Telecommunications Arbitrator) concluded that a 2G phase-out is not possible until appropriate solutions are developed to address the following issues:

• a large part of the population will lose mobile communication service (people use only 2G phones – in this case there is no rollback scenario).
• many M2M services will be disrupted, including critical services such as online cash registers that communicate with tax authority servers or security and other accounting services.

In the event of 3G phase-out, NMHH launched a program called “NetreFel” in February 2021 to educate people about ensuring a smooth phase-out of 3G networks.

In addition, under this program, residential users were given a one-time subsidy to replace their old mobile phones with at least 4G VoLTE compatible mobile phones.

Initially, subsidies were given only for the exchange of 3G devices, later the possibility of exchange was extended to 2G phones.

The initial subsidy of HUF 20,000 (about EUR 54) was doubled in the second phase of the program. By March 31, 2023, 120,000 phones have been replaced with new 4G/5G enabled devices, and old phones have been collected and recycled in an environmentally friendly way.

The program was funded with approximately 11.4 million euros from the NMHH budget, resulting in no consumer complaints.

Magyar Telekom ended its 3G services on 30 June 2022, Vodafone did the same on 31 March 2023, and third-party operator Yettel also ended the vast majority of its 3G services, which was due to end on 31 December 2023.

• In France, Orange announced a plan to phase out 2G and 3G technologies back in March 2022. 2G technology will be phased out in 2025 and 3G in 2028.

Individual customers will be able to get a compatible phone and recycle or trade in their old phone, while business customers will be able to choose LTE-M technology, which is more suitable for IoT devices.

Nine months after Orange’s announcement, other operators made similar announcements: it will shut down 2G by 2026 and 3G by 2028, while Bouygues Telecom will shut down 2G by 2026 and 3G by 2029.

• In Switzerland2G is being replaced by newer mobile technologies, and one in three mobile operators has already completed this process.

One mobile operator has announced that 3G will be discontinued by the end of 2025. The other two mobile operators have not yet announced the date of 3G shutdown.

Affected customers were and will be informed by mobile network operators in a timely manner and several times in writing, by phone and text messages about the replacement of 2G technology with 3G. Affected customers will also receive offers from mobile network operators to help them cope with the transition to new technologies.

• In Sweden, the shutdown of the 3G network began in 2020 and is related to the development of 5G. The scheduled shutdown of the 2G network will take place in 2025.
• In Iceland2G and 3G technologies will be turned off by the end of 2025.
• In Great Britainoperators have announced that they will turn off these networks no later than the end of 2033.

SEE BEREC REPORT ON 2G AND 3G DECLINE