Mobile phone giant Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) has revealed details of its 3G service switch off, which will begin in the city of Durham. As many as 4.3 million people with older mobile handsets face losing access to the internet with the ending of 3G services this year.
The change effects customers of O2, Virgin as well as other brands which use the VMO2 network of mobile phone masts, such as Tesco Mobile, Sky Mobile, and GiffGaff. Vodafone, Three, and EE have already completed the switch-off of their 3G networks in favour of concentrating on higher speed 4G and 5G networks.
VMO2 announced in September 2023 that it would be pulling the plug on 3G signals and it has now named the city of Durham as the first area where its 3G services will be switched off. In December 2021, the UK government and the leading UK mobile network operators (MNOs) – Vodafone, EE, Virgin Media O2 and Three – agreed on 2033 as the year by which all public 2G and 3G networks in the UK will be switched off to free-up and reallocate the required amount of spectrum to allow for the mass roll-out of more efficient 4G and 5G services and other future networks, such as 6G.
The change effects customers of O2, Virgin as well as other brands which use the VMO2 network of mobile phone masts
(Image: Getty)
The UK government sees the latter two platforms as providing the bedrock for use cases such as autonomous vehicles and drones, immersive virtual and augmented reality experiences, and innovations in tech to achieve net-zero targets and improve healthcare. Virgin Media O2’s 4G network currently covers 99 percent of the UK population, and by the end of 2023, 5G services had become available to more than half of the country.
The 2G networks will remain in place to carry calls and texts after 3G is switched off, and will themselves ultimately be turned off by 2033, in line with the UK government target. The VMO2 UK-wide 3G switch-off programme is set to be completed by the end of 2025, and the Durham move is regarded as a key milestone in VMO2’s programme to end 3G networks that were first launched more than 20 years ago, but currently carry less than 3 percent of all network data, a figure that continues to fall.
In the Durham area specifically, VMO2 has upgraded 4G and 5G masts over the past year, with further improvements planned in 2025. Moreover, VMO2 said it would use any lessons learned in the city to inform the wider programme when 3G sites across the UK will be turned off. While it said the “vast majority” of its customers will not have to take any action as a result of the switch-off, VMO2 has said it’s directly contacting the small proportion of customers in the area who don’t currently have a 4G or 5G device to let them know that, from April, they will require a 4G SIM and handset to continue using mobile data.
As part of the company’s plan to support the small number of customers who will be impacted, known vulnerable customers have already been offered a 4G-ready device free of charge, helping them stay connected, while all other customers who don’t currently have a 4G handset or SIM will be offered a new device at a reduced price. Customers of VMO2’s virtual network operators, such as Tesco Mobile and Giffgaff, will be contacted directly by their provider.
According to research by Uswitch.com, almost 3 million O2, Tesco Mobile, Giffgaff, Virgin and Sky Mobile customers don’t know if their phone is 4G or 5G ready, and more than 1.3 million say they still use a 3G handset. Uswitch said: “This means over 4m consumers could lose access to mobile data if they don’t upgrade their devices or take the steps recommended by their providers.”
Ernest Doku, telecoms expert at Uswitch.com, said: “The 3G switch-off, which began last year, is a crucial step to free up capacity for expanding 4G and 5G networks, offering significantly faster and more reliable connectivity than 3G. While the majority of customers do have a 4G or 5G compatible phone, there will still be a proportion of customers with older devices who will need to upgrade this year.
“If you’re still using an older phone, you can check your device’s 4G and 5G compatibility by looking for ‘Network Mode’ or ‘Preferred Network’ under ‘Network’ or ‘Mobile Data’ in your Settings. If you see 4G or 5G, your phone is compatible. If you do need to upgrade, there are plenty of affordable options out there, and it may be worth looking into a refurbished device if you’re not looking for the latest launches and don’t want a costly upgrade.
“It’s also worth running a coverage check for your area – Ofcom has one on its website – especially if you live rurally and have previously relied on 3G. Most of the country has strong 4G or 5G coverage, but it’s always a good idea to check which networks have the best coverage in the places you frequent most.”
He added: “The 3G switch-off is an important step in moving us towards a faster and more reliable service, but consumers must be fully aware of their network plans and how it might impact their device.”