New Zealand's 2degrees Initiates 3G Network Shutdown, Aligning with Industry-Wide Sunset

2degrees Initiates Phased 3G Shutdown in New Zealand, Industry-Wide Sunset Nears December 11, 2025 New Zealand's telecommunications sector is accelerating its transition to modernized networks, with mobile operator 2degrees commencing the shutdown of its legacy 3G service this month. This move is part of a global industry trend where carriers are retiring older technologies to reallocate valuable spectrum and infrastructure resources towards more efficient 4G and 5G networks, which offer significantly higher speeds and capacity. The company confirmed it will begin the process on December 14, starting with the deactivation of 3G services at 100 rural cell sites. According to a report by The New Zealand Herald, all these towers have already been upgraded to 4G. 2degrees aims to complete the full nationwide shutdown of its 3G network by "early 2026." The carrier originally launched its 3G service in 2010 and had publicly outlined its retirement plans over two years ago. Mark Callander, CEO of 2degrees, sought to reassure customers about the limited impact, stating, "3G usage on RCG sites is actually rather small, with most people connecting via 4G so the impact to anyone still using 3G to connect in those areas is likely to be minimal." He emphasized the company's ongoing communication efforts, adding, "We have been urging customers to get ready for this shutdown, and the time to take action is now." The announcement aligns with similar timelines from New Zealand's other major carriers. One NZ revealed its plan to begin its 3G shutdown on January 20, 2026, in Dunedin, targeting a complete termination by March 31, 2026. This follows a previous delay from an initial 2024 date. Similarly, Spark NZ has extended its own shutdown deadline to March 31, 2026. The coordinated timeline among the nation's three largest operators marks a definitive end for 3G mobile services across New Zealand, pushing remaining users to upgrade their devices and plans to maintain connectivity. Source: datacenterdynamics