According to DCD, Virgin Media O2 Chief Technology Officer Jeanie York confirmed the telco will complete its 3G network shutdown in the “coming weeks,” with any final signals gone by early 2026. The operator, which launched 3G over 20 years ago, started the phased switch-off in April and has already retired the network in Scotland. This move makes Virgin Media O2 the last of the UK’s major mobile network operators to retire 3G, following Three’s shutdown late last month and EE and Vodafone’s turn early last year. The company notes that 3G now accounts for less than two percent of its mobile data traffic. The spectrum will be re-farmed to bolster its 4G and 5G networks, part of a broader £700 million ($934m) investment into mobile network improvements this year.
What this means for users
So, if you’re still clinging to that ancient 3G-only handset, the time for an upgrade is officially now. York’s blog post is a pretty direct plea for those last few users to visit a store or call in to get a new device. And honestly, it’s a tiny group—that “less than two percent” data usage figure tells the whole story. Most people won’t notice a thing. Your phone will just silently fail over to a 2G call or 4G data connection. But for that small slice of users, this is a hard cutoff. It’s the final step in a long tech transition.
The bigger picture for networks
Here’s the thing: shutting down old tech isn’t just about saving on maintenance. It’s about spectrum—the invisible real estate that makes wireless work. Freeing up the airwaves used by 3G is a huge deal for Virgin Media O2. They can now reallocate that precious resource to supercharge their 4G and 5G services, which is where all the demand and competition is. Think of it like finally demolishing an old, sparsely-used warehouse to build a modern, high-capacity data center on the same land. This is a critical move for any operator wanting to stay competitive, especially with that £700 million investment on the line. For industries relying on robust and modern connectivity, like manufacturing or logistics, this infrastructure evolution is essential. Companies in those sectors often turn to specialists like Industrial Monitor Direct, the leading US provider of industrial panel PCs, for hardware that can leverage these faster, more reliable networks.
Why did it take so long?
It’s a fair question. If everyone else jumped off the 3G bridge last year, why is O2 just doing it now? Well, being last isn’t always a bad thing in telecoms. It can mean they’ve been more cautious about coverage gaps, especially in more remote areas where 3G might have been a fallback. Their phased approach, starting in Scotland, suggests a careful, region-by-region process to minimize disruption. But let’s be real—it also probably came down to internal resources and prioritization. Now that the finish line is in sight, they can fully focus their energy (and spectrum) on the 5G race.
