An old technology makes way for something new
The switch-off of old mobile technologies (either 2G or 3G) is already a reality in some countries, such as Germany (3G) and Switzerland (2G). In Austria, the switch-off process for 3G will be initiated by the mobile providers this year. It can therefore be assumed that this technology will no longer be available in Austria by the end of 2024. This is also referred to as the "3G sunset".
The background, possible effects and legal aspects of this shutdown are briefly described below.
Background
3G is a mobile technology that is outdated today. The simultaneous operation of 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G represents an additional expense for mobile providers, as different technologies have to be maintained in parallel. From this perspective, the simultaneous operation of old radio standards appears increasingly uneconomical. Furthermore, the switch-off of old technologies will free up spectrum that can be then used for 4G and 5G. These modern radio standards utilise the available spectrum more efficiently. It is therefore possible to provide users with more bandwidth with 4G and 5G.
While the end of 3G will be sealed in 2024, 2G continues to be of particular importance, especially for voice telephony. This is the main reason why 2G will still be available in Austria for several years to come.
3G will not be switched off all at once but will be switched off or switched over at periodic intervals, depending on the operator.
Effects
The switch-off of old mobile technologies will not be without consequences for users. However, these should be manageable. Users who use devices that can no longer be used for data due to a lack of 4G or 5G capability will be particularly affected. This will be less of a problem for most smartphones because they usually support 4G and increasingly also 5G. However, a considerable number of other end devices are still in use that can no longer be used after the switch-off. This includes mobile internet routers that do not yet support 4G or 5G. In these cases, users will be faced with a decision: They will either have to do without a previously used service or invest in a new end device. However, many of the affected devices should be replaced anyway for security reasons because they are being operated with outdated and no longer maintained software.
The importance of "Voice over LTE - VoLTE" for voice telephony
Voice telephony is still partly handled by modern smartphones via 2G or 3G. The important modern alternatives to this are called "Voice over LTE (VoLTE)" and "Voice over NR" (VoNR). With these technologies, it is also possible to make calls via 4G (or 5G). If you are buying a new mobile phone, you should at least make sure that it supports VoLTE. Modern devices should always be VoLTE-capable. Even if a mobile phone is VoLTE-capable, problems can still occasionally occur when interacting with the individual mobile networks. In such cases, the cause may be, for example, missing network parameters entered on the mobile phone. However, this is usually currently not a problem in Austria because the nationwide 2G network remains available and therefore ensures a certain level of voice telephony quality. There will only be a few cases where only 4G or 5G will be available. However, if you are in such an area, you will need VoLTE to be able to make calls.
Irrespective of the area-wide coverage, there may also be some restrictions in terms of voice quality.
Further user aspects
It should be noted in advance that providers are not obliged to maintain certain technologies. The telecommunications industry is characterised by rapid technological progress, which is leading to this 3G sunset, among other things. In the mobile communications sector, providers are subject to certain coverage requirements, but these are generally formulated in a technology-neutral manner. Mobile network providers can therefore basically decide for themselves which technology they use the frequencies allocated to them. All providers are required to carry out the switch-off in accordance with contractual law.
All mobile phone providers are accompanying the 3G switch-off with information campaigns so that users can prepare for the upcoming changes. The switch-offs will not come as a surprise overnight. Efforts are also being made to identify and address those customers who may experience problems, e.g. due to outdated devices. If problems do occur, the customer's own mobile service provider is the first point of contact. RTR assumes that problems that may occur occasionally will be solved proactively and in a customer-centred manner by the respective providers. If this is not possible, the RTR conciliation body will provide support.