The global shift away from legacy cellular networks continues to gain momentum, as telecommunications providers worldwide announce plans to sunset their 3G infrastructure in favor of more advanced technologies. The transition marks the industry’s progression toward 4G and 5G capabilities, affecting mobile authentication, IoT devices, and digital identity services that previously depended on 3G networks.
In the United States, major carriers have already completed their 3G network shutdowns. Verizon concluded its 3G services on December 31, 2022, following T-Mobile’s decommissioning of Sprint’s networks on March 31, 2022, and AT&T’s shutdown on February 22, 2022. These changes have led to widespread updates in authentication systems and IoT device connectivity solutions across various sectors.
The movement extends across multiple continents, with numerous countries establishing timelines for network transitions. In Australia, the three major carriers—Optus, Telstra, and TPG/Vodafone—have scheduled their 3G network shutdowns for October 28, 2024. European nations are following similar paths, with Belgium’s operators planning shutdowns between 2024 and 2025. Orange, which has been advancing its digital identity capabilities, will terminate its 3G network by December 31, 2025, while Telenet and Proximus have set dates for September 30 and December 31, 2024, respectively.
Canadian telecommunications providers have also outlined their transition schedules, with Bell, Rogers, Telus, and Videotron announcing 3G network shutdowns by December 31, 2025, and July 31, 2025. In Asia, Chinese operators have initiated regional shutdowns of their 3G networks, with China Mobile, China Telecom, and China Unicom implementing phased decommissioning plans.
The Nordic region demonstrates particularly coordinated efforts, with Finnish operators DNA, Elisa, and Telia scheduling their 3G network closures throughout 2024. Similarly, Danish and Icelandic carriers have announced shutdown dates extending into 2025.
Germany has already completed its transition, with Deutsche Telekom, O2, and Vodafone having decommissioned their 3G networks. The German market has since focused on expanding digital identity initiatives and enhanced authentication services on newer network infrastructure. Meanwhile, French operators have outlined longer-term plans, with projected shutdowns in 2028 and 2029, allowing more time for the transition of legacy systems and IoT devices.
The global transition marks a significant technological evolution in telecommunications infrastructure, as operators redirect resources toward expanding and enhancing their 4G and 5G networks to meet growing demands for high-speed mobile data services. The change also requires updates to mobile authentication systems and digital identity solutions, with many providers implementing new security protocols better suited to advanced network capabilities.
Sources: Wikipedia, The Daily Pioneer
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