Article | UK Mobile Networks Are Changing

Written by: Carolanne Hurley, Managing Director

The UK’s mobile networks are undergoing big changes—nothing scary, just the usual march of technology! Here’s a quick look at what’s happening and what it means for the years ahead.

Goodbye 3G – Hello Future

The 3G network is on its way out. All major UK mobile operators are retiring 3G services, with full decommissioning expected by the end of 2025. That means devices that rely only on 3G will need an upgrade soon.

What About 2G?

2G will stick around a little longer, mainly for emergency backup, rural voice/text, and some IoT devices— but not forever:

2025–2028: 2G remains active, but providers begin gradually switching it off.
EE plans full 2G shutdown by 2029.
From 1 October 2025, O2 UK will stop supporting inbound roaming on its 2G network, which could impact roaming SIM services (and IoT connectivity).
Government policy points to full 2G shutdown across all UK networks by 2030–2033.

The Rise of 4G and 5G

While the older networks wind down, 4G and 5G are rapidly expanding:

5G now covers 62% of UK landmass and climbing.
Urban areas are seeing small-cell 4G/5G installations for stronger, more stable signals.
The Vodafone + Three merger has resulted in investment and they are aiming for 99% 5G coverage by 2034.

The Satellite Era?

Ofcom is working on Direct-to-Device (D2D) satellite services—like Starlink—to help bring mobile coverage to coastal and remote areas. These are expected to start rolling out as early as late 2025 or 2026.

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