Tele2 Lithuania has completed the shutoff of its 3G mobile network.
The carrier confirmed that the retirement of the legacy service will help it to modernize its mobile network with 4G and 5G.
Tele2 noted the switch-off of its 3G network will also allow the company to "optimize electricity costs."
"Radio frequencies are a limited and expensive resource. By switching off the old-generation 3G connection, we reuse the frequencies assigned to it to improve the new-generation connection," said Dr. Evaldas Stankevičius, head of network planning and strategy at Tele2.
"Having completed the switching off of the old-generation connection in the Tele2 network, we have already improved the speed of 4G and 5G Internet in many Lithuanian cities. In addition, such a network operates much more efficiently if we compare the amount of energy required to transmit the same amount of information."
Tele2 Lithuania, a subsidiary of Swedish telco Tele2, launched its 3G network in Lithuania 19 years ago. The company began to phase out the technology in March of last year.
Providing an update on its 4G network, Tele2 stated that it will continue to modern the 4G network. At present the carrier has deployed 1,572 base stations in the country.
Tele2's Latvian subsidiary is also on track to retire its 3G network this month, while in January the company's Estonian subsidiary also outlined its 3G retirement plans, noting that it will retire its 3G network by the end of this year.
Many mobile carriers across the world have either switched off their 3G networks or outlined plans to. Spectrum from the 3G network is reutilized for 4G and 5G instead.
Source: https://www.datacenterdynamics.com/en/news/tele2-lithuania-completes-3g-switch-off/