Comms minister tacitly confirms he is moving South Africa's 2G and 3G sunset dates

[Jan]

South Africa's 2G and 3G shutdown plans hit a snag

South Africa will hopefully know more about the government's intention to shut down 2G and 3G networks in the country in about four months, strongly suggesting that former communications minister Khumbudzo Ntshavheni's deadlines will not be met.

During his department's budget vote speech in Parliament on 17 May 2023, Minister of Communications and Digital Technologies Mondli Gungubele said the final next-generation spectrum policy would only be announced in September 2023.

 

[Gaz{M}]

This is idiotic in a country where most poor people still have older 2G/3G devices.

 

[AstroTurf]

This is idiotic in a country where most poor people still have older 2G/3G devices.

The ANC read the word Spectrum as free money.

 

[ToxicBunny]

Has our government ever met a single deadline?

 

[porchrat]

Has our government ever met a single deadline?

They beat the deadline for greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

 

[ToxicBunny]

They beat the deadline for greenhouse gas emissions reduction.

Damnit, so they have... ffs.

Even though this isn't really a deadline they were trying to meet Their own incompetence and criminality ended up with meeting that deadline.

 

[Dodger67]

There are massive tracts of rural areas that still have only 2-3G towers (and still others that have none at all). So it's not just the phones and dongles that need to be phased out. Government and the network company heads tend to have a "big city" world-view - they are blind to the thousands of km of "fly over country" that exists between the cites.

 

[dabbler]

Are analog TV transmissions ended yet? Guess not. How long has that been?

 

[backstreetboy]

Will take 10 years +.

 

[ToxicBunny]

There are massive tracts of rural areas that still have only 2-3G towers (and still others that have none at all). So it's not just the phones and dongles that need to be phased out. Government and the network company heads tend to have a "big city" world-view - they are blind to the thousands of km of "fly over country" that exists between the cites.

Nope, its not that they're blind to it. They just don't give a fsck about it because there is no value in those areas.

 

[Joseph matane]

Am interested in knowing why Vodacom Vibe phone didn't do well in terms of sales because it was part of migrating 2G subscribers to 3G and 4G network, which seemed like good strategy and even MTN had their own phone
If this devices were successful migrating non smartphone user's could be easy because least majority of could be using 3G network for voice calls but now mostly former Bantu education students use "Sephetha-mabaka" (essential tool) which is mostly 2G keypad phone

 

[neoprema]

Good, because 5G on MTN is rubbish and LTE barely usable. Maybe 3G will actually allow some traffic through sometimes...

Can't wait to get off this idiot network and back to Vodacom..

 

[Fuzzbox]

couldn't hit a barn door at 5 paces with a bazooka.

CLOWNS.

 

[Swa]

Well when we miss every deadline there is what's new?

 

[Swa]

This is idiotic in a country where most poor people still have older 2G/3G devices.

Which is partly the networks' fault for not trading in older devices and giving incentives for newer tech.

There are massive tracts of rural areas that still have only 2-3G towers (and still others that have none at all). So it's not just the phones and dongles that need to be phased out. Government and the network company heads tend to have a "big city" world-view - they are blind to the thousands of km of "fly over country" that exists between the cites.

It's precisely because of 2G and 3G that those areas don't have LTE and 4G. And the networks can't give a feck about trying to properly farm the spectrum in these areas.

 

[Ockie]

Another problem is also Volte. Older phones that have LTE don't support Volte and instead falls back to 3G for voice calls. I gave my old Lenovo ZUK phone which is a LTE to our domestic lady and it does not support Volte...well...not on Vodacom anyway. So if 3G were to be switched off...then the phone won't be able to make or receive calls.

 

[Pak Fa Fui]

Another problem is also Volte. Older phones that have LTE don't support Volte and instead falls back to 3G for voice calls. I gave my old Lenovo ZUK phone which is a LTE to our domestic lady and it does not support Volte...well...not on Vodacom anyway. So if 3G were to be switched off...then the phone won't be able to make or receive calls.

Not true

 

[Ockie]

Not true

Well...if they don't switch off 2G then it will still be able to make calls...but 2G will be retired too at some point.

 

[richjdavies]

Sorry for the Zombie re-enactment here...

Is there any more news on this?

Found this that summarises the plan... but what's the latest on whether the plan is actually happening?!

2G 3G Switch off South Africa

[As at February 2025] As new technologies and spectrum bands are enabled, we often get asked when older services (such as 2G & 3G) will be throttled, switched off or retired. With 4G and 5G being steadily deployed globally, the process of retiri...

flickswitch.freshdesk.com

 

[ToxicBunny]

Sorry for the Zombie re-enactment here...

Is there any more news on this?

Found this that summarises the plan... but what's the latest on whether the plan is actually happening?!

2G 3G Switch off South Africa

[As at February 2025] As new technologies and spectrum bands are enabled, we often get asked when older services (such as 2G & 3G) will be throttled, switched off or retired. With 4G and 5G being steadily deployed globally, the process of retiri...

flickswitch.freshdesk.com

Sa government... Take your best guess at what's happening.