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What Telekom customers need to know now

The time has come: Deutsche Telekom is starting to shut down the 3G network in Germany. The promise is that the cellular network should not get any worse as a result. Telekom customers still have to be prepared for an important change.

Telekom: 3G network will be switched off

While the whole world is talking about 5G, Telekom wants to disconnect from its 3G network just like other network operators. So far, however, there has been no official announcement as to when this will be the case. But now it is certain: On June 30, 2021, “the outdated 3G technology will be sent into well-deserved retirement”, as can be read in a message. The declared aim is to make room for newer technologies such as 4G and 5G. Old 3G frequencies are sometimes required for this.

The vast majority of Telekom customers are already equipped with 4G tariffs (LTE) and have cell phones that can handle LTE without any problems. Nevertheless, there are still a few regions in Germany where 3G is still king. In the event of a shutdown without replacement, all that would remain is the more stone-age 2G network, with which today’s mobile Internet is unusable. According to Telekom, this will not happen.

The plan envisages providing the remaining 3G areas with “high-performance 4G coverage” until the final shutdown in summer 2021. In addition, customers who still only have a 3G tariff can switch to a 4G tariff at no additional cost. The changeover should happen automatically and only affect “a few remaining stocks” anyway. Third-party customers who use the Telekom network will also switch to 4G by summer 2021 at the latest.

We have summarized more about the deactivation of 3G here in the video:

3G: shutdown also with o2 and Vodafone

In addition to Telekom, Telefónica (o2) and Vodafone will also say goodbye to their 3G network. Telefónica gives itself until 2022, while Vodafone, like Telekom, pulls the plug at the end of June 2021.

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