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Operators will begin shutting down the network technology from August 1
Singapore’s mobile operators have today confirmed that they will begin shutting down their 3G networks in the coming months.
M1 says that it will begin the switch off from the start of next month, while Singtel and StarHub say they will begin to discontinue 3G services from November.
This transition is slightly behind schedule. Last summer, all three operators issued a joint statement saying that they would switch off 3G services by July 31, 2024, saying at the time that there was roughly 100,000 3G subscribers that would need migrating to newer network technology.
M1 says that all its customers have now subscribed to 4G or 5G services, hence it is now able to proceed with the switch off. Singtel and StarHub, however, say that they need more time to migrate straggling customers onto the newer networks.
According to figures from Singapore’s Infocomm Media Development Authority, fewer than 0.1% of mobile subscribers, or less than 9,000 lines, are still using 3G. These customers are currently being contacted by the operators, encouraging them to switch to a 4G-capable device.
Once the 3G networks are shut down, the spectrum previously used will be repurposed to bolster the operators’ 5G networks.
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