Vodafone UK plans to decommission 3G network from 2023

Vodafone UK has outlined plans to retire its 3G network from 2023 in order to use the released spectrum to improve the speed and coverage of its 4G and 5G networks. The operator has launched a year-long campaign to inform customers of the planned decommissioning. Vodafone UK CEO Ahmed Essam said 3G "has connected so many customers over the last 17 years, but the future is 4G and 5G". Of the data running on Vodafone's network, less than 4% is 3G data at the moment, compared to more than 30% in 2016. The operator also pointed to the environmental advantages of closing 3G, saying that 5G networks are "more than 10 times more energy efficient than older 3G equipment". Its rivals are planning similar moves. BT's mobile operator EE plans to phase out 3G services by 2023, while CK Hutchison's 3 UK will stop selling compatible equipment from 2018. In December 2021, the UK government announced that it had reached an agreement with 3 UK, EE, Virgin Media O2 and Vodafone to shut down all public 2G and 3G networks by 2033. The aim is to free up spectrum for the large-scale deployment of 5G and other future networks that can be used for driverless cars and drones, immersive VR and AR experiences, and innovations around sustainability and healthcare. The UK Department for Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS) and carriers have also agreed to accelerate the deployment of Open RAN, with the goal of carrying 35% of mobile traffic on compatible devices by 2030.