GSA report expects world 2G/3G community shutdowns to peak in 2025
With operators globally searching for to shut down legacy community expertise and repurpose 2G and 3G spectrum for 4G and 5G, the International cell Suppliers Affiliation (GSA) has been monitoring the progress and plans for 2G/3G expertise turn-downs.
As of the tip of June, the GSA had recognized 192 2G/3G shut-downs that have been accomplished, in progress or deliberate throughout 68 nations, in comparison with 59 in December 2023. These expertise sunsets started to happen on a widespread foundation final yr, and the GSA mentioned that the “tempo continues to construct” as of the second half of 2024.
The breakdown between 2G and 3G was roughly even, with 93 operators in 52 nations having deliberate or accomplished 2G turn-downs and 96 operators in 46 nations engaged on or having executed 3G sunsets.
GSA expects 2G/3G sunsets to peak through the course of 2025, when 32 operators are already planning for 2G shutdowns to occur and 16 are working towards 3G sunsets.
In associated information, Vietnam’s Ministry of Info and Communication introduced yesterday that 3G companies within the nation are deliberate to be shut down as of September 2028. As a part of that announcement, Nguyen Van Son, director of operator Viettel Telecom’s Cell Middle, confirmed that it’s actively transitioning 2G clients to 4G and that only some “hotspots” of 3G subscribers stay. Son mentioned: “By the tip of 2024, Viettel’s clients will solely be 4G and 5G subscribers.”
In line with GSA’s analysis, amongst operators which plan to sundown their 2G/3G networks, 43.5% plan to improve to 4G/5G, 39.7% will improve to LTE solely and one other 7.6% will transfer straight to 5G; lower than 10% plan to proceed to have 3G within the combine.
Carriers within the European area are dealing with the biggest variety of 2G/3G sunsets (round half of the recognized shutdowns), adopted by Asia. Latin America and the Caribbean has seen a bounce in plans for 2G/3G shutdowns as LTE adoption turns into extra widespread.
