Deutsche Telekom this week announced that it is shutting down its 3G network in the summer of 2021.
After Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom is now also naming the date for the switch-off of its 3G network. From June 30, 2021, Deutsche Telekom's 3G network in Germany will be shut down, making room for faster technologies.
Deutsche Telekom said it will then use the frequencies currently blocked by 3G for the much more powerful 4G and 5G technologies. The few areas that were previously covered by 3G but not by 4G will now be provided with a high-performance 4G supply. LTE in all tariffs without additional costs to enable customers to use the new mobile communications standards, the tariff and the device used must support the respective technology.
Deutsche Telekom said it has already prepared the changeover for its customers through various measures so that they can benefit from the network modernization early on. The customers' contracts will be extended in advance for the use of 4G/LTE. In this way, they automatically benefit from the changeover at no additional cost. Regardless of which rate Telekom customers use - LTE is included. Almost all contracts are already activated for the use of 4G/LTE. And by the time 3G is switched off in summer 2021, even the few remaining contracts will have access to the LTE network. When switching to a current tariff, 5G use is even included in many cases in addition to 4G/LTE.
Dirk Wössner, Telekom Deutschland CEO
The 3G switch-off next summer will enable us to further improve our network. We are using the 3G frequency spectrum that is becoming available for the most modern technologies. We want LTE for everyone and we are building Germany's largest 5G network.