Major UK mobile provider is shutting down service in 2030 THREE years ahead of big deadline

A MAJOR UK mobile provider has announced it will axe an “ancient” service three years ahead of a government deadline.

In recent weeks, all the big mobile providers have been shutting down older networks to make way for the faster 4G and 5G variations.

It follows an agreement, made in December 2021, between the government and the tech giants to switch off 2G and 3G networks in the UK in 2033.

Vodafone has said this week that it will shut its 2G service down in 2030, three years before it is legally obliged to switch it off.

This means phones using the provider’s 2G service – which was launched in 1991 – will no longer be able to use the service.

It is a move that could affect thousands of users in the UK, but you have plenty of time to switch over.

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The good news is whilst we will be switching it off, we are also investing £11bn to build a 5G standalone network that will reach 95% pop coverage by 2030, so no one is going to be left without the internet.

The company said there were several reasons for its decision to close the network in 2030.

This included the widespread adoption of 4G and 5G technologies for smartphones.

Essential functions

These are increasingly being relied on by Brits for essential functions such as banking, navigation, messaging, and social media, said Vodafone.

Utilising more space for other services was also cited as an issue as 2G equipment is recycled.

In the statement posted on Vodafone’s website on Monday, September 22, a spokesperson for the company announced its plan to shut down its 2G service in 2030.

“2G was launched in 1991 around the same time as a page of the world wide web took nearly 10 minutes to load,” said the spokesperson. 

“Fast forward to the present day and web pages can almost instantaneously pop up on a smartphone over 5G.”

Phased approach

The spokesperson emphasised the company was committed to ensuring a smooth transition for customers through a “phased approach”.

“Vodafone can ensure customers stay connected during this time,” they said. 

“In addition, it continues to expand its 4G and 5G networks, as well as looking to introduce direct to device mobile broadband satellite services, so that by the end of 2030, Vodafone will serve areas that have little or no coverage today.”

Technologies are also available to support services that currently use 2G, including the Internet of Things, they added.

“In the coming years, these technologies are predicted to be well established.”

Vodafone is not the only telecoms provider making moves to prepare for the 5G and 4G switchover.

Earlier this month, O2 completed its next phase of its plan to ditch the 3G service across the UK.

The service was a game-changer for smartphones when it was introduced in the UK in 2023.

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O2 customers have been warned for months that the shutdown is coming – with another part of the country feeling the effects today.

In January, BT started contacting its EE business clientele “in the coming months” encouraging them to ditch 2G.