One NZ kicks off the initial phase of its nationwide 3G network shutdown this Tuesday, January 20, beginning in the Dunedin region.
“After years of preparation and customer communication, Dunedin will be the first city where we switch off 3G, starting tomorrow on Tuesday 20 January,” One NZ Chief Technology Officer Kieran Byrne said.
Shutting down 3G will free up radio spectrum, enabling One NZ to enhance its 4G and 5G networks.
“Switching off 3G lets us deploy more of our radio spectrum into 4G and 5G, meaning faster speeds, better coverage and a more reliable network for our customers,” Byrne explained.
“The good news is most customers are already on 4G and 5G, but if you or someone in your whānau is still using a phone that relies on 3G for calling, now’s the time to upgrade. Dunedin switches off 3G from tomorrow, with the rest of the country to follow by the end of March.”
2degrees also started shutting down its 3G services last year, shifting Kiwi mobile users onto the superior 4G and 5G networks.