3G It is the third generation of wireless mobile telecommunication technology that was first commercially launched in mid-2001 and was an upgrade to 2G, 2.5G, GPRS and 2.75G networks.
So far, it has been successful with the launch of 4G, 5G, and more recently a 6G test run in China, which is a super service upgrade.
Apart from the companies mentioned above, the October report of the Global Association of Mobile Providers (GSA) has confirmed that 142 companies in 56 countries have completed, planned or are in the process of shutting down 2G and 3G networks.
The decision to shut down these networks according to experts is accelerating to make way for stronger 5G technology and other networks.
When network operators shut down 2G networks, spectrum can be recycled for 4G and 5G networks, offering much greater connectivity options for consumers.
Despite these announcements, no operator in Africa has yet announced the shutdown of 2G/3G technology. However, South Africa has issued a statement regarding the future of 2G and 3G in the country.
The government announced that by June 2023, it will completely remove 2G device licenses. In the second half of 2024, the country plans to carry out a similar process for 3G that will end in March 2025.
In Nigeria, there has been no announcement to join the lockdown, but the state of currently used equipment that was built on the infrastructure of older networks may cause problems for network operators.
Experts have revealed that the 5G license currently being auctioned by the Nigerian Communications Commission it can be implemented on the infrastructure of older networks.
These older networks, however, have a deadline set by the original equipment manufacturers indicating when they will stop producing 3G and 2G equipment and, eventually, TELCOS using these equipment models may find it difficult to operate.
