The mobile phone company Vodafone reported this Tuesday that it will begin to disconnect its 3G network in 2023 as part of plans to improve 4G and 5G services.
In a statement, the company says that 3G coverage will be phased out in order to be replaced by strengthened 4G and 5G services, which offer faster and more reliable connectivity.
The 3G shutdown comes 17 years after Vodafone launched its coverage in the UK, with the network handling almost 500 billion minutes of calls, the company added.
The operator said moving away from 3G can help reduce the company’s environmental impact, as modern 5G networks are more efficient than older 3G equipment.
“We are building the most reliable mobile network in the UK and are focused on the technologies that connect our customers best and have the least impact on the environment,” said Vodafone UK CEO Ahmed Essam.
“We will focus on providing customers with a faster and more reliable mobile experience, and on minimizing our impact on the environment by removing a layer of our network that uses equipment that is not efficient,” he added.