UK’s largest cell community to ‘shut down’ as prospects handed pressing warning
Thousands of customers will lose their ability to use the internet, after one of the biggest mobile networks in the country announced it would be shutting down its operations
One of Britain’s longest-running mobile networks has announced it is shutting down its operations with immediate effect. This could mean thousands of people might be affected as a result of the switchoff.
As the years go by and tech becomes more advanced, older versions of what we have come to take for granted fade out of existence. Now, it has been revealed that one of Britain’s most popular providers is shutting down its older networks.
As a result, those who have older phones could now be cut off as they are not built to sustain the power provided by newer tech. Customers are now being urged to upgrade their phone in order to avoid missing out.
According to the Sun, the UK’s biggest phone provider O2 is set to “fully shut down” its 3G network. Now a part of the huge conglomerate Virgin Media O2, it said that phones that use 4G or 5G in order to be connected to the internet will not be affected.
Instead, only phones that are prepared for a maximum internet strength of 3G are being told they will be cut off. Many customers have already received messages explaining their next options, including how to upgrade to a new phone.
If they decide not to switch, calls and text would still work, but it would no longer be possible to browse the internet or use any form of web service. However, as the UK’s largest phone provider — boasting millions of customers up and down the country, the number of people who may actually be affected will be quite low.
Figures have shown that out of O2’s entire customer base, just 2% have phones or other devices whose maximum strength for the internet is 3G. But aside from this, O2 have said they are looking to use the money saved by shutting down the service for its latest endeavour.
It is believed that once the shutdown goes into effect over the next few weeks, O2 will be able to reclaim the radio spectrum on its 4G and 5G networks. This means that millions of customers who rely on the network to keep them connected will have even faster speeds to surf the net on.
However, O2 is not the only network to have said goodbye to its 3G service, as EE, Vodafone and Three have all scrapped their own versions of the network in order to improve its services for everyone. The full shut down of the network was trialled throughout last year, and with O2 now beginning its own shutdown, the network will have no presence on major providers.
Speaking on the decision to bring the service to an end, Jeanie York — O2’s chief technology lead — said that the time was right to bring the network down. “We’re now more connected than ever thanks to significant investment in faster, more reliable 4G and 5G networks,” Jeanie said.
“As a result, 3G has become a relic of a bygone era. Our 3G network has already been withdrawn across many parts of the UK, with the remaining areas set to follow shortly.
“Although a 3G signal may still appear in some locations briefly in early 2026, the network will soon be fully shut down,” Jeanie added. “Anyone still using a 3G-only handset should upgrade as soon as possible.”
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