Tonight, after 20 years of operation, the 3G/UMTS network at Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone and partly also at Telefónica/O2 is retiring. From now on, networks for 2G, 4G/LTE and 5G will only be operated in Germany. ComputerBase explains what is changing in terms of technology and for customers in cellular networks.
Table of contents
- 1 German Telekom
- Locations go offline every second
- 20 MHz for LTE and 5G at 2,100 MHz
- LTE scratches the 99 percent mark
< li> 2G is retained
- Check compatibility via IMEI
- Last 5 MHz migrate to LTE
- Less than 2 percent data traffic in the 3G network
- Test shutdowns in Suhl, Mainz, Wiesbaden and Chemnitz
- From the past 384 Kbit/s up to 500 Mbit/s
- Help on separate FAQ page
- 97 percent Data traffic via LTE
- 3G shutdown in five phases
- New locations for the last 4G gaps
- Free exchange of old SIM cards
The official shutdown of the 3G networks on June 30th is the last step in a process of planning and preparation that has been going on behind the scenes for some time. Of the UMTS frequencies originally acquired, which were auctioned in the first round in the summer of 2000 for around 16.5 billion D-Marks each to Deutsche Telekom, E-Plus, Telefónica and Vodafone, only fractions are still active for 3G, because the majority the frequencies have already been rededicated to newer standards such as 4G/LTE and 5G. At Deutsche Telekom, the last 5 MHz are now finally being dropped, and Vodafone is only concerned with getting rid of one last frequency block of 5 MHz. Telefónica will also part with the last 5 MHz in the course of the year.
While Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone plan to switch off the 3G network in the next few hours and days and want to allocate the spectrum gained to the two newer wireless standards in the next few weeks, Telefónica will start the first stage of the 3G switch-off from tomorrow, its full implementation should be completed by the end of the year. In the following sections, ComputerBase explains what changes in detail for each of the three network providers, how long the process takes, which technical hurdles have to be overcome and what that ultimately means for customers.
Deutsche Telekom
At Deutsche Telekom, the 3G shutdown affects the last 5 MHz left in the frequency range at 2,100 MHz, which was previously still available as the remaining spectrum for 3G after a long time with 15 MHz for mixed operation of 4G/LTE and 5G using the Dynamic Spectrum Sharing (DSS) process on the old passive 3G antennas. As of this year, the network operator has 20 instead of 10 MHz at 2,100 MHz available, which will be fully used for the newer standards with the 3G shutdown next night.
Every second, locations go offline
A spokesman for Deutsche Telekom has explained to the editors in detail how the 3G shutdown will take place on the night of July 1st. And no, no employee will pull a big lever in the Telekom basement today. In fact, the shutdown is completely software-controlled. It is true, however, that the entire process should be completed in one night by taking individual locations off the grid every second. The exact time at which the shutdown should be ended cannot be seriously given, since care is taken over speed.
When shutting down the 3G network, they “play it safe” and watch the network very closely. “If we discover a deviation from our target values, the experts intervene immediately and adjust accordingly. Even after the shutdown, we keep an eye on the characteristic values of the networks, ”said a spokesman.
With the 3G shutdown, the last 5 MHz carrier is not immediately available for 4G/LTE and 5G. It is not yet known exactly how long customers will have to wait. The integration should start in the second half of July. As the network operator explains, the last 5 MHz cannot simply be switched on because the 15 MHz currently used are historically not optimally in the frequency band. Extensive technical adjustments are required so that the full 20 MHz can be used. For example, the center frequency must be shifted on all transmitters. Additional parameters such as bandwidth and SSB position (“Synchronization Signaling Block”) are also adjusted. “Our engineers will do a lot of fine-tuning to get the best out of the network.”
LTE is scratching the 99 percent mark
On the customer side, the 3G shutdown should not result in any dead spots because, as the network operator assures, the network coverage of the 5G/4G/2G networks already exceeds the 3G network. And all locations that were previously only supplied with 3G are to receive 4G coverage or, in the “vast majority of cases”, have already been updated to this standard. Most recently, Deutsche Telekom announced on Monday that 5G capacities had been set up at 304 locations. Due to DSS at these locations, LTE can always be used in addition to 5G. In addition, Telekom created additional LTE capacities at 153 locations, and 146 new LTE locations were built in the last eight weeks. The population coverage for LTE is 98.8 percent, for 5G it is 80 percent.
According to the group, there are no longer any customers with contracts up to 3G at Telekom. Before the shutdown, the network operator expanded all existing contracts to include the use of 4G/LTE and VoLTE. Even with its own prepaid offer and the other prepaid providers, there are practically no offers without LTE, as a glance at Check24's price comparison shows. According to Deutsche Telekom, the data volume still processed via the 3G network will be less than 1 percent at the time of the nightly 3G shutdown.
2G is retained
While Deutsche Telekom seems to have set the course for the switch-off, there are still devices on the customer side that cannot do anything with LTE. According to Telekom, some customers use their devices exclusively for telephony and SMS, for example. The network operator argues that an upgrade to a newer phone that also supports LTE is not necessary in these cases. Telephony and SMS will also be possible via 2G in the future, and smaller amounts of data can also be transported using the old standard. Many M2M modules will also continue to be online via the 2G network in the future. And the eCall, the automatic emergency call system in the car, also works via 2G.
Check compatibility via IMEI
Deutsche Telekom is accompanying the farewell to the 3G network with a website set up for customers to clarify any remaining questions. For example, the IMEI can be used to determine whether your own device is already capable of LTE. There is also help there for activating LTE and VoLTE if the device supports both but has not yet been activated in the settings. Under certain circumstances, LTE cannot be used despite a suitable contract and device because the SIM card is out of date. The reason for this is that cards issued up to 2004 do not support the authentication protocols used in the LTE network. Telekom wants to inform customers in good time if they need a new SIM card. You can also manually check on the side whether the card is designed for LTE. Telekom offers affected customers a free exchange.
Vodafone
At Vodafone, the 3G switch-off is done very similarly on the whole. The shutdown in the Vodafone network will also begin in the night from June 30th to July 1st, albeit not in one fell swoop, but in four waves and divided into several network sections. According to current planning, the last shutdown should take place in the night of July 7th. The company does not publicly communicate in detail which sections will be switched off and when.
Last 5 MHz migrate to LTE
What changes at Vodafone on the technical side with the 3G shutdown is also very similar to the measures taken by Deutsche Telekom. Spectrum is already few and far between, so Vodafone will reallocate the last spectrum remaining at 2,100 MHz from 3G to LTE. As far as the plans of the network operator are concerned, the group announced in February of this year when the bandwidth for LTE on band 1 was increased by 50 percent from 10 to 15 MHz. The remaining 5 MHz carrier, which is currently still used for 3G, will follow after the shutdown has been completed later in July, so that 4G/LTE can ultimately be used in this frequency range with a bandwidth of 20 MHz.
The column on the far right shows the future LTE network (image: Vodafone) Less than 2 percent data traffic in the 3G network
< p class = "p text-width">Even with Vodafone, the 3G shutdown should not result in new white or gray spots, because the 4G/LTE exceeds the 3G network coverage, said a spokesman when asked. According to its own statement, Vodafone reaches 98.6 percent of households in Germany with LTE. The company wanted to enable customers to switch gently from 3G to LTE in advance. According to current figures, the data traffic in the 3G network has been reduced to less than 2 percent of the total data traffic in the cellular network. All customers with only 3G access should automatically have Internet access in the LTE network. If a SIM card without LTE support is used, it will be exchanged free of charge.
Test shutdowns in Suhl, Mainz, Wiesbaden and Chemnitz
The last week with 3G was preceded by test shutdowns in Suhl as well as in Mainz, Wiesbaden and Chemnitz. In Suhl in the south of Thuringia with around 37,000 inhabitants, Vodafone tested the shutdown of the 3G network and determined an average of 40 percent higher data rates in the LTE network. Using the example of Suhl, data and voice traffic in the 2G network increased significantly during the test phase, explained Guido Weißbrich, chief network planner at Vodafone, in February. The voice quality in the 2G network remained the same in Suhl despite the increased load, 60 percent of all calls were processed via VoLTE. Many customers would not have noticed the change, or a change in the smartphone settings could help customers. In a few cases it was necessary to replace the smartphone or the SIM card, according to Vodafone.
In Mainz, Wiesbaden and Chemnitz with 220,000, 280,000 and 250,000 inhabitants, the area was found larger test areas. More than 300 3G locations in each of the three cities have been taken offline since mid-April and the spectrum has been rededicated to 4G/LTE. These test shutdowns in May would have shown that the lack of UMTS coverage was hardly noticed by customers.
From 384 Kbit/s to up to 500 Mbit/s
20 MHz each for Downlink and uplink should ensure at least 40 percent higher transmission rates with LTE across Germany in the future. In the LTE network, Vodafone advertises with up to 500 Mbit/s in the downlink, while the maximum for 3G with the accelerator HSPA + was 42 Mbit/s. In 2004 Vodafone started as the first German network operator with UMTS and speeds of 384 Kbit/s.
Help on separate FAQ page
Online support is available from Vodafone on a website set up on the subject of 3G shutdown. Pure 3G contracts are no longer offered by Vodafone – all tariffs can use at least the 4G network. The only exceptions for Vodafone are old devices, incorrect settings under Android and iOS or outdated SIM cards. LTE is now also standard among the prepaid providers who use the Vodafone network. Whether your own smartphone is already 4G-capable can be checked with a check tool on the linked website.
In the FAQ linked below, Vodafone also explains which settings may still have to be made under Android and iOS in order to be able to use LTE or VoLTE. These measures are especially necessary if the end device was previously manually limited to 3G and now with an LTE-compatible contract there is suddenly no reception other than 2G. In all probability, the SIM card issue will only affect very few customers because, as with Deutsche Telekom, only SIM cards that are more than 15 years old do not support the LTE standard.
Vodafone also wanted to inform customers about the change of outdated SIM cards in good time. The customer can also determine this himself in the Mein-Vodafone app using the serial number of the SIM card. Under “More – & gt; My contract – & gt; My SIM card ”, the year of the SIM card can be determined from the third and fourth numbers and, in the case of older cards, from the fourth and fifth numbers. The card is checked again in the Vodafone shop and, if necessary, exchanged for a current model free of charge.
Telefónica/O2
The network operator Telefónica with the brand O2 outlined the exit from the 3G network at the beginning of June and wants to begin with the shutdown from tomorrow. While Deutsche Telekom and Vodafone want to complete this process within a week at the latest, Telefónica is taking its time by the end of the year. Telefónica also wants to use the frequencies currently still in use at 2,100 MHz for 4G/LTE by the end of 2021. The network operator promises additional network capacities, higher speeds and shorter response times for mobile data usage.
Even with O2, 3G is going in favor of 4G (picture: Telefónica Deutschland) 97 percent data traffic over LTE
The 20-year-old 3G has lost its importance at Telefónica insofar as the standard is only offered there with a bandwidth of 5 MHz at 2,100 MHz. Of a total of 20 MHz bandwidth, 15 MHz has already been assigned to the newer LTE and the current standard will completely take over the spectrum by the end of the year. LTE with a bandwidth of 20 MHz will then be offered together with the other frequency ranges at 800, 1,800 and 2,600 MHz, among others. As of the beginning of June, Telefónica stated that around 97 percent of all data runs over 4G.
3G shutdown in five phases
Tomorrow the first 500 3G locations are to be converted to LTE and another 1,000 locations will follow two weeks later. First, regions in Lower Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Brandenburg and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania will be converted to LTE. These include cities such as Potsdam, Wolfsburg, Braunschweig, Salzgitter and Hildesheim as well as the districts of Ludwigslust-Parchim, Altmarkkreis Salzwedel, Ostprignitz-Ruppin, Gifhorn, Celle and the county of Bad Bentheim. The reallocation of around 9,500 additional locations is planned by the end of September 2021. During this time, the network work is carried out in large cities such as Munich, Cologne, Frankfurt, Stuttgart, Essen and Düsseldorf as well as in large parts of Bavaria, Schleswig-Holstein, Saxony, Thuringia and the Saarland. By late summer, 4G should transmit with full bandwidth to two thirds of all previous 3G locations. The capital follows at the very end: The last 4,500 or so 3G locations are due by the beginning of December, including Berlin, Hamburg and Leipzig as well as all other regions in Germany.
Roadmap for the 3G shutdown at O2 (Image: Telefónica Deutschland) New locations for the last 4G gaps
There should be no failures in the network with the reallocation, because 99 percent of the population can reach O2 with the LTE network according to the current status. In the case of 5G, the expansion is also progressing with currently 1,600 antennas at 3.6 GHz and a planned 6,000 antennas by the end of the year. 5G will also be implemented on 700 MHz and 1,800 MHz to cover more regions and especially rural areas. At the same time, Telefónica wants to close the last 4G gaps by upgrading locations with 4G or building completely new ones in areas that are currently considered white spots.
Free exchange of old SIM cards
On the customer side, the majority of their own customers as well as the customers of own and partner brands should have been supplied with LTE for years. Old contracts have all been opened for 4G, so that use can ultimately only fail on the end device, incorrect settings or old SIM cards – the procedure is therefore the same as for all other network operators and 2G remains as a reserve with Telefónica, if nothing else goes. The network operator offers all of their own customers a free SIM exchange if they still use a card that is limited to 3G.
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- 3G (UMTS)
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- 5G
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