MTN South Africa plans to conclude its phased pilot program by December, 2025; however, its 3G phase-out will be gradual, targeting completion toward the end of 2026. This timeline will also depend on the availability of compatible devices.
According to reports, the pilot , which covered Durbanville, Greater Melkbosstrand and several Cape Town suburbs, was launched early last year to help MTN fine-tune the migration process.
The 3G shutdown has been planned since 2022, when the Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) announced its intention to phase out 2G and 3G services to modernize South Africa’s mobile networks and free up spectrum for 4G and 5G.
The DCDT originally ordered 2G to be shut down by June 2024 and 3G by March 2025. However, in February the ministry agreed to push the shutdown deadline for both networks to the end of 2027. Despite this adjustment, concerns remained over how the switchoff would be handled and the scope of the potential impact on users.
MTN informed Cape Town customers in a letter that the transition would be implemented in stages to minimize disruption, the report said, although it added that some short-term disruption was inevitable.
Meanwhile, the Independent Communications Authority of South Africa (ICASA) is conducting an economic impact assessment to ensure that the 3G shutdown will not negatively impact subscribers, especially in areas where 4G coverage is limited or non-existent, the report noted.
According to ICASA figures, 4G covers 98.5% of South Africa’s population. By contrast, 3G covers 99.9% of the population.
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