Telekom Deutschland, the domestic fixed and mobile unit of Deutsche Telekom (DT), has announced plans to switch off its 3G network from 30 June 2021, as it focuses on the rollout of faster and more advanced technologies. The frequencies currently used by 3G will be refarmed for LTE and 5G networks, with the areas that were previously covered by 3G but not 4G set to receive LTE coverage by the switch-off date. Telekom says it has already prepared the changeover for its customers through various measures so that they can benefit from the network modernisation early on and at no additional cost. All of the operator’s tariffs will soon include LTE access, while all third-party providers now have access to its 4G network and can put together corresponding offers for their customers.
‘The 3G switch-off next summer will enable us to further improve our network,’ commented Dirk Wossner, Telekom Deutschland CEO, adding: ‘We are using the 3G frequency spectrum that is becoming available for the most modern technologies. We want LTE for everyone and we are building Germany’s largest 5G network.’
As previously reported by CommsUpdate, in May this year Vodafone Germany also announced plans to shutter its 3G network on 30 June 2021. Until that date, Vodafone will gradually refarm portions of the spectrum currently used for W-CDMA to increase the capacity, speed and coverage of its 4G network.