3G shutdown in Singapore has been carefully planned by the Government. This was started from November 2023, when Infocom Media Development Authority (IMDA) stopped to accept new registration for 3G-only mobile devices that do not support VoLTE capability.
Following to this, on February 2024, IMDA started to stop the distribution of 3G-only mobile devices by prohibiting import and sale. As a result, the number of new 3G-only mobile telecommunication devices in the market can be minimized significantly to prepare for the day of 3G Shutdown in Singapore. Distributors and retailers have been noticed beforehand, so that they have enough time to take preventive action and do some mitigations toward this governmental decision.
Read: Singapore IMDA Appoval
Although 3G has been introduced to Singapore for more than 20 years ago, currently it’s losing customers significantly. According to the record, 3G users is less than 0,1% from total network users in Singapore, with the rest 99.9% have migrated to 4G or 5G. Especially for 5G, its users has increased significantly since firstly-introduced in 2022. This trend is also supported by more manufacturers producing and distributing more equipment using 5G networks in Singapore.
For IMDA, this decision of 3G Shutdown in Singapore is their big step in regulating frequency allocation within the country. By shutting down 3G network, it means more ranges can be invested for other allocations such as 4G or 5G, providing the customers more advanced network which is oriented to the country’s future digital transformation.
And in order to bring success to this, on July 2024 Mobile Networks Operators announced their plan to stop providing 3G to the customers. IMDA also suggested MNO to provide 4G/5G services package as well as assistance to help customers with network migration.
To smoothen the process of 3G Shutdown in Singapore, major MNOs have taken part on this. M1 for example, they have confirmed that all customers have completely migrated to 4G/5G. So, their ready to stop its 3G services on August 1st 2024. While for Singtel and Starhub, they are still progressing with the migration. For these two MNOs, 3G services are planned to be completely stopped this November.
With this migration, of course it’s good news for the business and customers. Indeed, 3G is a breakthrough back then. But technology has its limit. So, when it comes to the limit, new and more advance technology will replace. The same is also applied to 3G.
With the shutdown of 3G network, we hope it will bring more spaces for new technology to grow, providing a better and more-future oriented services to the customers. And as customers, if we want to buy telecommunication devices, especially for mobile phone, please make sure that the device has VoLTE capability so we’re not affected by the 3G Shutdown in Singapore.
Source: TradeNet | IMDA
