The 3G switch-off in the UK was completed early 2026. We understand that this was a smooth process, and Ofcom and the mobile operators have reported no significant negative impacts on consumers.

The 2G switch-off will take place between 2029 and 2033. Ofcom have reported in its Connected Nations 2025 report that there are around 2 million 2G-only mobile users remaining (including 2G-only accessible handsets).

Government is working with the industry to ensure that 2G-only mobile customers are upgraded to 4G and/or 5G devices that support voice calls before 2G is switched off. This includes ensuring that customers are given sufficient notice by their operator to upgrade their devices, and vulnerable consumers are offered additional support where needed.

The Department is also assessing what the impact of the 2G switch-off will be on other use cases across critical sectors through cross-government and sector engagement.

The government welcomes legacy networks being switched off in a responsible way, as this will increase network efficiency, minimise energy consumption and free up spectrum for 4G and 5G networks and beyond.

Ofcom has published details of how it expects the mobile network operators (MNOs) to conduct the switch off in line with their regulatory obligations, and the mobile network operators have committed to offer broadly the same level of coverage via their 4G networks as they currently offer on their 3G (and 2G) networks.

Given MNOs’ assurances that 4G coverage should be available in place of 3G following switchover, farmers currently using 3G for navigation should therefore be able to rely on 4G coverage or, failing that, satellite navigation systems.

The Shared Rural Network aims to extend 4G coverage to 95% of UK landmass by the end of 2025, while further coverage improvements in the more hard-to-reach areas will continue to be delivered until the start of 2027. 4G coverage is already available to over 93% of the UK landmass.

The government welcomes legacy networks being switched off in a responsible way, as this will increase network efficiency, minimise energy consumption and free up spectrum for 4G and 5G networks and beyond.

Ofcom has published details of how it expects the mobile network operators (MNOs) to conduct the switch off in line with their regulatory obligations, and the mobile network operators have committed to offer broadly the same level of coverage via their 4G networks as they currently offer on their 3G (and 2G) networks.

Given MNOs’ assurances that 4G coverage should be available in place of 3G following switchover, farmers currently using 3G for navigation should therefore be able to rely on 4G coverage or, failing that, satellite navigation systems.

The Shared Rural Network aims to extend 4G coverage to 95% of UK landmass by the end of 2025, while further coverage improvements in the more hard-to-reach areas will continue to be delivered until the start of 2027. 4G coverage is already available to over 93% of the UK landmass.

The government welcomes legacy networks being switched off in a responsible way, as this will free up spectrum for 4G and 5G networks and beyond. Ofcom has published details of how it expects the mobile network operators to conduct the switch off in line with their regulatory obligations. These expectations include providing customers with a minimum of three to six months’ notice of any steps they need to take as a result of their provider switching off their 3G networks; communicating in a clear and timely way, using a range of communication channels to raise customer awareness of the proposed changes; and providing additional support to vulnerable customers.

The mobile network operators have set out advice to their customers on 3G switch off plans on each of their websites.

We will continue to monitor the MNOs’ progress in switching off their 3G networks.

In December 2021, DCMS published a Joint Statement with the UK’s mobile network operators (MNOs) confirming that all 2G and 3G networks would be switched off by 2033 at the latest. We welcome that some individual operators will switch off these networks, particularly 3G networks, earlier than this date. Each MNO is moving at its own pace within this timeframe and since this statement was published a number of operators have announced individual plans for 3G switch off.

We are committed to extending good quality mobile coverage across the UK. In March 2020, the government announced a deal with the MNOs to increase 4G coverage to 95% of the UK landmass.

In 2017, the government also set an ambition for the majority of the UK population to have access to 5G by 2027. This has been met five years early, with basic “non-standalone” 5G - which uses 5G equipment on 4G infrastructure. In our forthcoming Wireless Infrastructure Strategy, we will establish a new ambition for 5G. We will also set out how we will continue to drive 5G deployment across the UK and ensure that UK businesses reap the full benefits of 5G.

There is no explicit regulatory requirement for MNOs to maintain a 2G or 3G network and the government has limited powers to compel operators to maintain, switch off or streamline specific networks. It is for operators to take final decisions on the provision of network services.

MNOs will contact customers to let them know if they are affected and what steps they need to take prior to the switch off of these networks. DCMS officials are working closely with relevant government departments and Ofcom to support this transition away from 2G and 3G networks. The Government welcomes 2G and 3G networks being switched off in a responsible way, and will continue to work with MNOs to ensure a smooth transition that meets the needs of business users and consumers.

Switching off 3G mobile networks is a global trend as operators free up spectrum to focus on the provision of newer 4G and 5G services. In the US, all 3G networks have already been switched off. This might affect the experience of UK customers travelling to the US, in particular for customers with an older phone model. In some cases, UK customers might not be able to make calls or access data unless they are connected to WiFi.

There is no specific obligation for UK mobile providers to inform their customers of changes to network provision in other countries. However, Ofcom is speaking to providers to ensure that they are informing customers of this impact and some providers have been proactively sending messages to potentially affected groups. Customers should speak to their mobile network provider before leaving the UK to understand the impact of 3G switch off on their roaming experience.

There is no explicit regulatory requirement for mobile network operators to maintain a 3G network and it is for operators to take final decisions on the provision of network services. The Government welcomes 3G networks being switched off in a responsible way and will continue to work with Ofcom and mobile network operators to ensure a smooth transition that meets the needs of business users and consumers, including rural communities.

We are committed to extending good quality mobile coverage across the UK. In March 2020, the government announced a deal with the mobile network operators to increase 4G coverage to 95% of the UK landmass. And the majority of the population can now access basic 5G. The Wireless Infrastructure Strategy will set a new ambition for 5G to make sure communities across the country benefit from secure, reliable and resilient connections.

The Government welcomes the responsible switching off of 3G networks, and will continue to work with mobile network operators to ensure a smooth transition that meets the needs of business users and consumers, including vulnerable groups.

We are committed to extending good quality mobile coverage across the UK. In March 2020, the Government announced a deal with the mobile network operators to increase 4G coverage to 95% of the UK landmass. The Government’s ambition is for the majority of the population to have access to a 5G signal by 2027 and we want to ensure that UK businesses reap the full benefits of 5G.

We are committed to extending good quality mobile coverage across the UK. In March 2020, the government announced a deal with the mobile network operators, including Vodafone, to increase 4G coverage to 95% of the UK landmass. The Government’s ambition is for the majority of the population to have access to a 5G signal by 2027 and we want to ensure that UK businesses reap the full benefits of 5G.

There is no explicit regulatory requirement for mobile network operators to maintain a 2G or 3G network and the government has limited powers to compel operators to maintain, switch off or streamline specific networks. It is for operators to take final decisions on the provision of network services.

The Government welcomes 3G networks being switched off in a responsible way, and will continue to work with mobile network operators to ensure a smooth transition that meets the needs of business users and consumers, including rural communities.

Mobile coverage in the UK is among the best in Europe. Ofcom’s Infrastructure Report 2014 notes that 84% of the UK (outdoors) and 71% of the UK (indoors) has 3G coverage from all operators, with mobile services among the cheapest in Europe. The UK is also experiencing one of the fastest rollouts of 4G mobile broadband services in Europe – with over 70% of premises already having 4G services available from at least one operator and with the operators aiming to reach 98% of premises by the end of 2015.

The amount of tax relief claimed in respect of 3G licenses will depend on the circumstances of each company. Quantifying the amount of tax relief claimed (and as a result the net Exchequer receipts) in respect of 3G licences would require HMRC to analyse the tax returns of each of the affected businesses and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

The amount of tax relief claimed in respect of 3G licenses will depend on the circumstances of each company. Quantifying the amount of tax relief claimed (and as a result the net Exchequer receipts) in respect of 3G licences would require HMRC to analyse the tax returns of each of the affected businesses and could be provided only at disproportionate cost.

Mobile coverage is a matter for Ofcom who licence the mobile network operators. The 3G licences issued in 2000 contain coverage obligations to ensure that the operators must cover an area where at least 80% of the population live, by 2007. This was extended to 90% coverage, by 30 June 2013. Coverage is detailed at Ofcom’s website at:

http://maps.ofcom.org.uk/mobile-services/

which shows levels in 2012. However, it is a commercial decision for the mobile operators as to how they meet their coverage obligations and sparsely populated areas may have less coverage.

Government is looking to provide mobile coverage through the £150 million Mobile Infrastructure Project announced in 2011. In conjunction with our contractors, we are in the process of identifying sites for infrastructure to provide coverage. The first site to provide coverage is in north Yorkshire, and we expect it to be fully operational in the next few weeks.

Government recognise the benefits of mobile phone coverage and are working with the mobile industry to deliver the Mobile Infrastructure Project (MIP) to fill gaps in mobile coverage. The Department for Culture, Media and Sport is in the process of procuring a MIP provider to deliver the required infrastructure and once that process has been completed, will begin selecting the areas to be covered.

However, the ability of mobile networks to achieve coverage in an area is predicated on both business considerations and on the operators being able to gain access to suitable sites in order to achieve the coverage improvements. This could prove difficult on Scilly where a large amount of land is subject to planning protection.