By 
By Ross Moyo
Econet Wireless Zimbabwe has set a December 2027 deadline to switch off its 3G network, as the country’s largest mobile operator accelerates investment in 4G and 5G while giving rural users more time on 2G.
The company said the move is about freeing up spectrum, improving service quality, and aligning Zimbabwe with a global shift away from older mobile technologies.
“Our plan is to shut down 3G first, by the end of December 2027,” said Econet Chief Executive Officer Dr Douglas Mboweni.
“Only a small proportion of our customers remain on 3G, as most are now using 4G and 5G. We are encouraging those still on the older technology to migrate to the higher-speed technologies.”
WHY 3G IS GOING
Although 3G still supports voice calls and basic internet, Dr Mboweni said it is increasingly inadequate for data-intensive applications such as video streaming, cloud services and artificial intelligence tools.
Maintaining 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G at the same time also puts pressure on spectrum — the limited resource used to carry calls and data. By retiring 3G and later refarming 2G, Econet can reallocate that spectrum to expand 4G and 5G capacity, improve data speeds and strengthen overall network performance.
The company has already ordered much of the equipment required and is rolling out new sites across the country. It is also developing an independent power system to improve network resilience amid persistent electricity supply challenges.
Dr Mboweni said the wider modernisation programme will require annual investment running into hundreds of millions of dollars.
“The wider network modernisation programme is expected to require annual investment running into hundreds of millions of dollars.”
WHAT IT MEANS FOR CUSTOMERS
For consumers, the deadline means it is time to check your phone. Devices that do not show 4G or LTE will need to be replaced before the end of 2027.
Econet said it will support the transition with affordable handsets and flexible payment terms. The company is also urging independent suppliers to stop selling new devices limited to 2G and 3G only.
In a related move, Econet is launching a crackdown on “grey handsets” — phones marketed as smartphones but which do not meet technical specifications. These devices often drop to 3G or 2G and cause congestion.
Econet has developed a system to detect them when they attempt to connect. Affected customers will be alerted, and relevant authorities will also be notified.
“We are urging independent handset suppliers to stop selling new devices limited to 2G and 3G only, and instead focus on 4G and 5G-compatible models,” Dr Mboweni said.
RURAL USERS GET MORE TIME ON 2G
While 3G will be switched off nationwide in 2027, Econet will keep 2G running longer to protect rural communities that still rely on basic feature phones for calls and SMS.
“We must give rural customers more time to replace their phones while supporting them with affordable handsets and flexible payment terms,” Dr Mboweni said.
“We will first upgrade network coverage and then help customers in rural communities migrate to 4G as the minimum standard. That work is already underway.”
The company said the goal is not to disconnect anyone, but to lift the minimum standard across the country.
ZIMBABWE JOINS GLOBAL TREND
Econet’s timeline puts Zimbabwe in step with regional peers. Rwanda has set June 30, 2027 for its nationwide 3G switch-off, while South Africa has set December 31, 2027.
Globally, the transition started earlier. Germany and the Czech Republic completed 3G shutdowns in 2021. The United Kingdom phased out 3G by early 2025 and is now preparing to retire 2G between 2029 and 2033.
Only this week, Ukrainian operator Kyivstar announced it had migrated more than one million subscribers from 3G to 4G, freeing spectrum for network expansion.
For Zimbabwe, the shutdown signals a push toward a faster digital infrastructure needed for fintech, e-commerce, mining operations, cloud services and AI.
By 2028, the network will look different. 3G will be history, 4G will be the minimum standard, and 5G will be expanding.
Econet’s message to subscribers is simple: the future is faster, and the migration starts now.
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