Vodafone completes major 3G network shutdown – checklist of affected phones
VODAFONE has officially retired its 3G network as part of a UK effort to clear the airwaves for more advanced 4G and 5G services.
The switch-off follows months of warnings from network providers and the UK government that 3G will no longer be available after 2033.
While each network provider had their own timelines for a switch-off, Vodafone today said goodbye to 3G together with EE.
Vodafone, like other providers, had dismantled its 3G network in phases in England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
This is to ensure that no one is faced with any surprises.
Three expect to switch off their own 3G services by the end of 2024.
While O2 will follow suit in 2025.
Stronger 4G and 5G services mean customers in more rural parts of the UK have access to faster data services and clearer voice calls.
The switch-off is also part of Vodafone’s Net Zero by 2027 strategy, as modern 5G networks are more energy efficient than the 3G network.
A study published last month by Opinium on behalf of USwitch warned that up to 2.7 million Britons could be “without access” to mobile data if they don’t upgrade their device.
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This is despite the various awareness campaigns led by charities and networks themselves to help vulnerable customers with the transition.
Can I still use my mobile data?
If your phone is only compatible with 2G and 3G, you will no longer have access to most of your mobile data allowance.
You’ll need to upgrade your phone to a newer model that can connect to 4G or 5G if you want to use your mobile data.
This has led campaigners to warn that switching off 3G networks will push people with older phones into ‘digital poverty’, according to the BBC.
Supervisor in the field of telecom Ofcom has provided advice for consumers when switching off on their website.
Vodafone is running an ongoing customer awareness campaign, which it launched in January 2022, warning of the lockdown and offering advice on how to access 4G instead.
The switch-off of 3G goes hand in hand with Vodafone expanding its 4G coverage to more rural parts of Britain through the government’s £1 billion Shared Rural Network (SRN) programme.
“Now that the shutdown is complete, we can start to redeploy the remaining spectrum, which will ultimately lead to stronger and faster 4G and 5G in the UK,” Andrea Dona, Vodafone’s UK Network Director, said in the announcement.
Will I be affected?
Last year, EE revealed to The Sun some of the most popular 3G-only smartphones:
- Doro 6520, Doro 6521, Doro 6620
- Apple iPhone 4S
- TCL 1C
- Nokia-301
- Apple iPhone 4
- NokiaC2-01
- HMD 3310
- Samsung Galaxy Ace
- Samsung Galaxy s3 mini
- TCL Pixi4
If your phone can use 4G or 5G services, you won’t be affected by the shutdown.
Follow these steps to check if your phone is 4G compatible.
If you have an iPhone, simply follow these steps:
- Go to Institutions > General > Mobile.
- Here if you see it Enable 4G LTE option, your phone is 4G compatible.
- You can select this option to enable 4G.
For Android users, follow this:
- Go to Institutions > Mobile networks > Network mode.
- Here you will see if your phone has the option to select a 4G/LTE mode.
- If the mode is listed, your phone is 4G capable.