Hong Kong Telecom (HKT) has confirmed it will retire its 2G network by November 8.
In an announcement last week, HKT said it will reallocate the spectrum for its 5G network.
HKT noted that its 2G network accounted for 0.36 percent of its mobile subscription base as of April.
The company will reallocate its 2G spectrum in the 900 MHz and 1,800 MHz bands for its 5G network instead.
"In line with our commitment to advancing 5G technology, we will continue to leverage our network resources and expertise to offer high-speed, low-latency connectivity experience that meet the growing demand and evolving needs of our customers," said Bruce Lam, CEO consumer, HKT.
While the 2G service will continue to operate as usual until it's retired, the carrier, which has around five million mobile subscribers, said it has advised customers on 2G plans to upgrade their devices.
A number of telcos are phasing out 2G mobile services at present. Last month in Vietnam, the Ministry of Information and Communications (MIC) officially revealed plans to fully switch off 2G services in the country by September 2026.
In the UK, all four mobile operators have agreed to switch off 2G services by 2033, while in France Bouygues Telecom will decommission its 2G network by the end of 2026.
However, it's still some distance behind other nations, with Japanese network operators calling time on their 2G services back in 2011.
Source: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/hong-kong-telecom-to-retire-2g-network-in-november/