On Monday, September 9, Elisa will close its 3G network in Läänemaa, Hiiumaa and Saaremaa. Newer 4G and 5G networks and the 2G network will remain in use by customers. Gradually, the 3G network will also be closed in other counties across Estonia, with the aim of freeing up frequency resources for the use of 4 and 5G networks with a larger user base.
According to Toomas Polli, head of Elisa’s technology unit, 3G technology is used today primarily as a backup solution in those devices that do not support 4G or 5G technology. “The vast majority of devices introduced to the market in recent years already support newer 4G and 5G technologies, and customers in the Elisa network no longer have any devices with only 3G support,” he said.
“We will personally inform potential customers related to the 3G network shutdown through direct notifications, but all Elisa customers can check for themselves how the network shutdown will affect them,” added Polli. To do this, you have to make a personal request in the chat window of the website www.elisa.ee/#sm3t by entering either the phone number or the SIM card number.
In the Elisa network, customers no longer have any devices with only 3G support, but there are still devices with 2G/3G support, such as phones and net sticks. After the 3G network is closed, phones can continue to be used for voice service, but the customer must replace the device to use mobile data.
“All our customers, regardless of how old the device is, can continue to use the voice service on 2G technology. However, to use the mobile data service, it should be replaced with a device with 4G and/or 5G support,” added Polli.
“Next to the development of 5G technology, closing the 3G network is one of our biggest strategic projects in the coming years, which promises to bring lightning-fast mobile internet to even more people. The frequency resources and hardware occupied by the 3G network today can be used for 4G and 5G networks in the future,” said Polli. “Frequency volumes are a limited asset, and to keep up with the times and customer expectations, prioritizing newer technologies is the right choice.”
In preparation for the closing of the 3G network, Elisa has expanded 2G and 4G networks throughout Estonia over the past few years and continued with the construction of the 5G network. In total, Elisa has added more than 250 new 2G base stations to the network. Elisa has also focused its attention on increasing the share of 4G voice service, or VoLTE technology, as a result of which the majority of Elisa’s customers already use the VoLTE service today and can comfortably make high-quality calls over the Internet. This year, Elisa continues to compress 2G, 4G and 5G networks.
The shutdown of the Elisa 3G network started this spring in May, when the network was shut down in Rapla county, and will continue county-by-county until the end of November, when the network for Harju County customers will be closed last.
2024-09-04 10:03:59
#Elisa #closes #network #Läänemaa #Hiiumaa #Saaremaa
