Old Mobile Phones to Lose Signal as Global 2G Shutdown Trend Accelerates

Jakarta, CNBC Indonesia - The era of 2G cellular networks is drawing to a close, with operators worldwide beginning to phase out the decades-old technology. Virgin Media O2 has announced it will discontinue its 2G service, which has been operational for more than 30 years, as part of a strategy to accelerate network transformation. The UK’s largest mobile operator stated that the shutdown process will begin in early summer, around June 2029, as part of its Mobile Transformation Plan. This follows the company’s successful decommissioning of its 3G network at the end of 2025 after extensive trials. By ceasing 2G services, the company aims to migrate customers to 4G and 5G networks, which are deemed more efficient, reliable, and capable of meeting growing connectivity demands. Virgin Media O2 emphasised it will provide support to customers needing assistance during the transition, including helping them upgrade devices if necessary. The company will contact customers well in advance of the shutdown, particularly those still using older handsets, to give them time to prepare. Currently, the 2G network handles less than 0.5% of all data traffic on Virgin Media O2’s mobile network and is no longer used for international data roaming. Despite this minimal usage, the 2G network still consumes more than 10% of the total energy across the company’s cell sites, making the technology increasingly inefficient and less reliable compared to newer generations. Earlier this year, Virgin Media O2 launched the UK’s first direct-to-device satellite service, O2 Satellite, which covers approximately 95% of the UK’s landmass. The company has also signed a government-led voluntary statement on 2G sunsetting, aimed at ensuring service coverage is maintained and supporting businesses during the transition. Chief Technology Officer Jeanie York said the company is investing heavily to strengthen its mobile network infrastructure. ‘We are investing 700 million euros this year to transform our mobile network and ensure it keeps pace with growing consumer demand,’ York said. She added that retiring the 2G network allows the company to focus investment on more reliable and efficient 4G and 5G services. ‘As we look to the future, we will switch off the old 2G network to focus more on providing the reliable and efficient 4G and 5G mobile services that all our customers expect,’ she stated. York noted that the experience of shutting down the 3G network in 2025 provided valuable insight for responsibly managing the 2G phase-out without disrupting customers. ‘Having recently switched off our 3G network and joined the government’s 2G sunsetting charter, we know exactly how to do this responsibly and without disrupting customers.’ She reminded that most customers will not need to take any action, but businesses still relying on 2G-based devices should begin planning their transition now. ‘While most customers won’t need to do anything, some businesses may need to start planning for this now,’ she explained. York assured that Virgin Media O2 will continue to communicate directly with customers throughout the migration process.