UK prepares to wave goodbye to 3G telecoms as tri-hard tech retires

UK prepares to wave goodbye to 3G telecoms as tri-hard tech retires

Summary

Britain is moving to become a post-3G nation as Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) prepares to switch off its remaining 3G sites after pilots during 2025. Other major UK operators have largely completed their shutdowns (BT/EE, Vodafone, Three), though a handful of sites may keep 3G running briefly into early 2026 to avoid cutting service for some customers. People with 3G-only handsets will still be able to make voice calls and send texts but will lose mobile data, and MVNOs that rely on VMO2 (for example Giffgaff, Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile) will be affected. The move frees up spectrum for 4G and 5G but creates migration headaches for legacy M2M and IoT devices and highlights ongoing coverage concerns in some areas.

Author take

Punchy and plain: this is the end of an era — and a practical headache for anyone still on ancient handsets or running old IoT kit. Operators want spectrum back; you need to check your devices.

Key Points

• VMO2 will complete its 3G switch-off in the coming weeks, though a small number of sites may continue into early 2026.
• Users with 3G-only phones will retain calls and SMS but lose mobile data and many app functions.
• MVNOs using VMO2’s network (such as Giffgaff, Tesco Mobile and Sky Mobile) will see service impacts for affected customers.
• Freed 3G spectrum will be reallocated to 4G and 5G to improve overall smartphone experience, but national coverage targets and rural availability remain concerns.
• Legacy M2M and IoT devices will require migration plans or upgrades to avoid disruption; operators may keep some sites live temporarily to prevent service loss.

Context and relevance

The UK government set plans in 2021 to phase out 2G and 3G by 2033; most operators have already executed their programmes. Reallocating spectrum supports ongoing 4G/5G roll-out and better data capacity, yet the transition exposes gaps in coverage and the logistical cost of moving millions of legacy devices. Analysts are broadly unsentimental about 3G’s legacy, but the practical impact on rural users and embedded systems remains real.

Why should I read this?

If you — or someone you support — still use an older handset or have IoT kit running on 3G, this matters. Data stops working, apps fail, and connected devices can go dark. It’s a short, practical heads-up: check devices, plan replacements or contact your provider now.

Source

Source: https://go.theregister.com/feed/www.theregister.com/2025/12/19/uk_prepares_to_wave_goodbye/