Airtel to shut down 3G networks across India by December 2019

[Bapun]

• The process began last month when the telecom giant shut down 3G network in the Kolkata circle
• Airtel will shut down 6-7 circles by September and the entire pan-India network by March

Airtel to shut down 3G networks across India by March 2020

 

[Sparker0i]

Yeah when I was in Chennai and Coimbatore a couple of weeks ago, I was getting either 4g or 2g on my sim. Didn't get 3g in Chennai, rarely in CBE

 

[nrajeshkumar]

Even in chennai airtel shutdowns 3G.

 

[Sumit05]

Very good.

 

[d5aqoep]

I think they need to finish shutting down 3G by end of 2019. Every month is important.

 

[rahul1117kumar]

India's third largest operator by subscriber numbers, Airtel, will shut down its entire 3G network between December to March of the current fiscal, the company's Chief Financial Officer (CFO) Badal Bagri has told analysts.

"We are in the process of shutting down our 3G networks. We have experimented quite boldly in Calcutta to really shut off the 3G network altogether and refound the 900 megahertz, which is adding on 3G on LTE. That worked very well for us. By September, I think, there will be another 6 or 7 circles that will get shut down," Bagri said.
"Between December and March, the entire 3G network should be shut down. We now have a plan to pretty much shut the 3G networks across the country by December. So you will see a lot of action in this quarter.

Airtel to shut 3G operations by December: CFO

 

[Bapun]

The discontinuation of the 3G service was done in favour of improving the 4G LTE services in the state of Haryana. Airtel says the 2100MHz spectrum that was used for the 3G services will now be dedicated to the 4G services in the state, thereby improving the connectivity for 4G subscribers.

Airtel 3G customers need to upgrade to the 4G SIM cards as well as purchase a new smartphone that supports 4G networks.

However, existing 3G subscribers won't face disruption in service. Airtel says it will continue to offer voice service to subscribers with 3G SIM and handsets. Airtel will continue to provide 2G services in Haryana to serve the connectivity needs of customers on feature phones.

Airtel 3G network shut down in Haryana: Here's what 3G customers need to do for accessing Internet

 

[rahul1117kumar]

After Haryana, Airtel shutdown Punjab 3G network

With an aim to improve its existing 4G LTE services, Bharti Airtel on Friday announced that it has shut down its 3G network in Punjab. Punjab is the second state after Haryana, where the company has taken a drastic step and phased out its 3G service.

However, Airtel will continue to provide 2G services in Punjab to serve the connectivity needs of customers on feature phones.

After Haryana, Airtel shuts down Punjab 3G network

 

[Ashok Varma]

Hello Airtel! Please Provide VOLTE on all places and shutdown 2G also before commercial rollout of 5G!

 

[Ankit Jain]

Hello Airtel! Please Provide VOLTE on all places and shutdown 2G also before commercial rollout of 5G!

2g cannot be shut down as there are still many ppl who are using basic handsets. Villagers and elderly people still stick to basic handsets and investing 500-1000 for new mobile is a very big thing for them. However still feel that this will change in next 5years. But shutting down 2g will be like disconnecting half of India. Also note that most of the POS machines in shops uses 2g only. So this will be a major setback for the whole economy.