Overview
- Virgin Media O2 says 3G now carries under two percent of its data traffic, and the reclaimed spectrum will bolster 4G and 5G performance.
- Customers using 3G‑only phones will lose mobile internet unless they upgrade, though voice calls and SMS will continue to function.
- The operator has been contacting affected users with upgrade options after 2025 shutdown trials in Norwich, Telford, Guildford, Torquay and Watford.
- Partial withdrawals began in late 2025 in parts of Scotland, including Aberdeen and Dundee, with brief 3G signals still possible in early 2026 before final decommissioning.
- EE and Vodafone completed their 3G closures by early 2024, and Three ended 3G in November 2025, making O2 the last major UK network to retire 3G.