Story: News Desk
MTN Ghana has announced that it will adopt a gradual approach in winding down its 2G and 3G networks, ensuring that subscribers are given ample time to adjust to newer technologies.
Addressing journalists at the Digital Africa Summit in Accra, the company’s Chief Executive Officer, Stephen Blewett, acknowledged that a significant section of customers still depend heavily on 2G and 3G services.
He observed that while some deliberately remain on these networks to control data usage, many others continue to use handsets that are not 4G-enabled.
“Despite the widespread availability of 4G, a lot of our customers are still on 3G. For some, it is about managing their data consumption, while others are constrained by devices that cannot support 4G,” Mr Blewett explained.
He stressed that MTN’s long-term plan was to improve spectrum efficiency by eventually switching off the older networks but said the process would be carefully managed.
“We cannot simply switch off 2G and 3G without ensuring that affordable 4G devices are within reach. Doing so would risk excluding a large number of Ghanaians,” he cautioned.
13 thoughts on “MTN to shutdown 2G and 3G services”
This article is useful for Ghanaian users in general, especially those who are still using 2G/3G devices or networks — giving them a heads up to move to a new 4G-enabled device soon.
The education must include consumer awareness about hand set purchases. Users must ask about, and ensure they are buying devices that are compatible with 4G networks. It may be quite beneficial for MTN to publish a list of phones that are not 4G/LTE compliant and those that are, if its not against the law. Because users know brands and models but not the hardware specifications that distinguish 3G from 4G technologies.
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Interesting news about MTN’s plans to phase out 2G and 3G. It’s a big step for network modernization, but I wonder how it will affect users in rural areas with older devices. For those looking for alternative online entertainment, Gameilo – Free Online Browser Games offers lightweight games that work well on basic connections.
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A gradual transition makes a lot of sense. Many people still rely on older phones, and shutting down 2G and 3G too quickly could leave them without reliable mobile service. Hopefully affordable 4G devices become more accessible before the switch.
Improving network efficiency is important, but customer readiness should come first. It’s good to see MTN acknowledging the challenges faced by users who are still on legacy networks and planning a phased approach instead of an abrupt shutdown.
> Gradually retiring legacy networks makes sense, but the transition needs to prioritize affordability. As long as reliable 4G devices remain accessible, customers are far more likely to embrace the change without being left behind.
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This seems like a sensible approach. Phasing out older networks while giving customers enough time to upgrade their devices can help minimize disruption. Expanding access to affordable 4G phones will be essential so that people who still rely on 2G and 3G services are not left behind during the transition.
It makes sense they’re doing it gradually—too many people still rely on those networks. But I hope they actually make 4G phones affordable before pulling the plug.
It’s good that MTN is being thoughtful about this instead of just pulling the plug overnight. Hopefully they make those 4G phones affordable soon.