The company said doing so will enable it to strengthen its 4G and 5G networks and give a better connectivity experience to customers.
In July, EE switched off its 3G network in Warrington as its first trial site. After the switch off, there were no customer complaints about network coverage or performance, and there were also no capacity issues the company’s 2G or 4G networks. That successful trial has led to EE preparing to a nationwide 3G switch off from January 2024. It plans to complete the switch off by March 2024.
Greg McCall, chief networks officer, EE, said, “While 3G delivered everything we expected it to twenty years ago, it has now been made redundant by the widespread rollout of newer mobile technologies.
“Retiring 3G means we can reuse the spectrum to strengthen our 4G and 5G experiences - which the majority of customers use every day - and make sure more communities have access to a fast, reliable and sustainable mobile network.
“When our 3G network switches off early next year it will be a landmark moment. And while its retirement is more of a network evolution than a revolution, it sets the scene for many exciting developments to come in the years ahead.”
A nationwide 3G switch off should also deliver sustainability benefits. McCall added, “3G represents around 35 per cent of our mobile network’s total power consumption – massively outweighing its usage which is falling all the time.
“Retiring the technology is one of the best steps we can take to reduce our carbon footprint, as modern networks like 4G and 5G are not only faster and more reliable for customers but also up to ten times more efficient.”