O2 issues urgent alert as it confirms these phones | Tech News

Anyone nonetheless utilizing an older cell phone on the O2 community is being urged to improve now. The common UK cellular supplier has simply issued a remaining warning forward of the upcoming shutdown of its 3G service in 2026. Those who fail to behave within the coming weeks can be left with out entry to cellular web or online providers such as WhatsApp. O2, now half of Virgin Media O2, has confirmed it will swap off its 3G community within the following few weeks, with the company saying, “In early 2026, the network will soon be fully shut down.”

This replace from O2 follows comparable strikes by rivals EE, Three and Vodafone who’ve all now scrapped 3G entry. Once the service is deactivated, clients utilizing 3G-only gadgets will lose all web providers and should improve to a newer machine with 4G and 5G technology.

Jeanie York, Chief Technology Officer at Virgin Media O2, stated the choice displays how cellular utilization has advanced.

“We’re now more connected than ever thanks to significant investment in faster, more reliable 4G and 5G networks,” she defined. “As a result, 3G has become a relic of a bygone era.”

York added that Virgin Media O2 is on monitor to finish its switch-off within the coming weeks after a collection of profitable trials carried out all through 2025.

The company says the change will have an effect on solely a small quantity of clients, most of whom ought to have already got acquired messages outlining improve choices. However, those that delay risk dropping cellular knowledge entry as soon as the community is turned off. While calls and textual content messages will proceed to work, cellular web providers is not going to.

“Our 3G network has already been withdrawn across many parts of the UK, with the remaining areas set to follow shortly,” York stated. “Although a 3G signal may still appear in some locations briefly in early 2026, the network will soon be fully shut down. Anyone still using a 3G-only handset should upgrade as soon as possible.”

Why is 3G being switched off?

3G technology can no longer meet fashionable calls for. Devices restricted to 3G sometimes attain speeds of round 6Mbps, in contrast with nicely over 100Mbps on 5G. Phasing out 3G additionally frees up useful spectrum, permitting suppliers to broaden and improve 4G and 5G protection.

York defined that 3G now accounts for much less than 2% of cellular knowledge utilization on the Virgin Media O2 community. “With usage in steep decline, the industry and government agreed in 2021 to retire 3G networks. This allows spectrum to be reallocated to 4G and 5G services, delivering faster speeds, more reliable streaming, and higher-quality voice calls for customers.”