VODAFONE has announced that it is preparing to phase out 3G coverage in Winchester.

This comes as the company announces it will be switching off its legacy 3G network across the south-central area, following successful switch-offs in other areas including Basingstoke, with the remainder of the UK following by the end of February.

The programme means the radio spectrum currently allocated for 3G will be used to strengthen 4G and 5G services further across the UK. 

Most smartphones use 4g and 5g so most people will be unaffected by the measure.

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Hampshire Chronicle: Vodefone will phase out its 3G network by the end of FebruaryVodefone will phase out its 3G network by the end of February (Image: Canva)Meanwhile, Vodafone’s 2G network, currently covering over 99 per cent of the UK population, will remain for calls, texts and a number of IoT services for the time being, alongside services such as 4G Calling which uses the 4G network to make and receive calls.

The activity follows a customer awareness campaign which started in January 2022 and included Vodafone notifying customers who may be affected by the switch off, offering information and advice such as how to check if a mobile device is 4G-capable and how to carry out software upgrades where required.  

Other UK mobile network operators have confirmed to the government that they do not intend to offer 2G or 3G mobile networks past 2033.

Vodafone’s UK chief network officer, Andrea Dona, said: “Our 3G switch-off programme has gone extremely well so far. As a result of our ongoing network improvements, data traffic has declined over the last few years with less than 2 per cent of the data used on our network being on 3G.

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“This means we can start to redeploy its remaining spectrum to our 4G and 5G services, ultimately leading to stronger and faster coverage for more parts of the UK.  Good news for both our customers but also the wider UK economy. At the same time, with modern networks being much more energy efficient, its retirement is also an important step forward for us reaching  Net Zero for our UK operation by 2027. 

“As we continue to focus on building our reliable award-winning network, now really is the time to say goodbye to 3G.”

Vodafone customers will be able to learn more about the Vodafone 3G switch off programme online, by calling 191 from their Vodafone phone, or by visiting their local Vodafone store.