Don’t Panic: 2G and 3G networks in Nigeria are not going away for a long time, despite planned shutdown in South Africa

South African mobile networks have begun the process of shutting down 2G and 3G mobile networks. However, in Nigeria, 2G is still the most widespread mobile technology in use by subscribers and so is not going to be shut down in the nearest future.

As at 2024, over 55% of mobile subscribers in Nigeria were still using 2G networks. Most of those feature phones in the hands of artisans, market men and women, students, and others, are mostly 2G devices. When you consider how harsher economic conditions have become, the migration to 4G and 5G devices isn’t happening fast enough for any sane person to consider shutting down 2G and 3G networks in Nigeria anytime soon.

What of 3G networks in Nigeria?

As at 2024, only about 11% of mobile subscribers in the country were on 3G networks. But the top two Nigerian mobile network operators are not shutting that technology down yet. As a matter of fact, both of them recently invested in the required spectrum for another 15 years.  

In 2023, both MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria renewed their 2100MHz spectrum licenses (which is key to continued provision of 3G mobile services) for a period of 15 years. This means that these Nigerian networks will continue to provide 3G services till around 2037.

The South African Department of Communications and Digital Technologies (DCDT) wants 2G and 3G networks in the country to be switched off by 31 December 2027. The MTN South Africa website says that they plan to shut down their 3G mobile network by December 31st, 2026. A 3G shutdown in Nigeria will likely come about 10 years after South Africa’s. There is nothing for feature phone users in Nigeria to worry about yet.

In 2025, almost every smartphone sold in Nigeria is a 4G device. 3G smartphones are almost extinct in the market, as most phone makers have stopped producing those. Feature phones are practically the only type of mobile devices that are still dependent on 2G and 3G networks.

The switch from 2G and 3G to 4G and 5G

In the years ahead, more mobile subscribers in Nigeria will make the switch from 2G and 3G to 4G, and it is only when a critical mass of 4G subscribers is achieved that a 3G shutdown will be feasible in the country. Until then, 2G and 3G mobile networks are alive and well in Nigeria.

Of course, keeping 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G mobile networks running at the same time means higher operational costs, as each of them requires the use of scarce and expensive spectrum. Shutting down older (2G and 3G) networks lets mobile network operators will free up spectrum for newer (4G LTE and 5G) networks. It will also lower operator overheads.

Only MTN Nigeria and Airtel Nigeria operate 5G mobile networks in Nigeria today. Mafab/Mcom has largely remained a ghost 5G network. Globacom and 9mobile operate 2G, 3G, and 4G networks, while Smile, Ntel, and a few others all run 4G-only networks. The latter require no migration from older technologies, but at some point in time, Globacom and 9mobile will also have to shut down their 2G and 3G networks.

Globacom and 9mobile’s networks are currently in terrible shape. 9mobile subscribers have been stranded for many months on end, with the operator’s network AWOL a lot in many locations, while Globacom subscribers only have it better in a race to the bottom. If both of these ‘green’ mobile network operators do not fix up, they will be shutting down their networks permanently.

References

1. When does MTN South Africa plan to shut down its 3G network? (source)

Author: Mister Mobility

Web Developer and Tech Head with Architecture expertise and a passion for storytelling. I have owned, used, and reviewed hundreds of mobile phones since 2001.