PLDT to shut down all of its 3G Networks in 2023

With the rise of mobile Internet usage via technology provided by broadband cellular networks, its stead improvement all over the years is quite noticeable. 5G is the standard technology for data Internet these days, but what to do with the outdated technologies such as 3G?

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The country’s largest telecommunications operator, PLDT, Inc., said during a press conference that it will stop providing third-generation (3G) network services by 2023.

“We want to maximize our frequencies with other technologies that we use,”

SAID PLDT NETWORK HEAD MARIO TAMAYO.

According to PLDT Chief Financial Officer Annabelle Chua, who cited data showing that less than 5% of devices are currently using 3G network, the closure of 3G is seen as a chance “to optimize our network.”

President and CEO of PLDT-Smart Alfredo Panlilio further noted that the market is “ready” for the 3G network’s shutdown and that only 4% of their subscribers were using it.

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In order to free up wireless airwaves, network providers “would prefer to get rid of obsolete legacy tech,” according to Ian Fogg, vice president of analysis at mobile analytics company Opensignal.

In most countries, turning off older masts makes more room for newer networks like 4G and 5G, and some 3G spectrum can also be used for 4G traffic.

Older devices that rely on 3G service, such as feature phones or “dumbphones,” as well as older smartphones, may lose network access, making it unable to make calls, send texts, or use a mobile data connection (through HSPA or HSPA+).

These phones might still be able to perform the aforementioned functions using a 2G network, but they might do so more slowly (mobile date via GPRS or EDGE).

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Once the 3G shutdown is implemented, devices older than the iPhone 5 or Samsung Galaxy S5 will be less capable.

Major telco players in the United States have already shut down their 3G networks as of January 1st of this year, and Philippine telco companies are expected to follow suit.

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2 COMMENTS

  1. It’s all well and good shutting down old tech and reusing the frequency to boost 4G but there are still a lot of people using old tech probably at a might higher percentage than states in this article a lot of people may not be able to afford new phones so essentially forcing customers to switch to 4G at their own cost or possibly lose customers because of not being able to afford a new one

    And as for 5G you won’t get that many people switching to it considering how expensive the devices are for example a pocket wifi cheapest 5G unit I have seen is 14k and above and phones are not far off that price either

    And considering telcos here cannot even meet the minimum speeds of LTE, 4G I highly doubt their 5G will be any better

    All these networks all 3 of them majority of the time speeds are only within the 3G range in most cases basic 3G speeds around 3 to 5Mbps and 3G tops out at 42Mbps on the HSPA+ protocol so LTE needs to be 43Mnps minimum and none of the networks achieve that and 4G must be a min 100Mbps

    So as for 5G they can kiss my @$$ for a long time to come until prices are reduced to a reasonable rate and that data allowances have been seriously improved

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