Econet Sets December 2027 Deadline To Shut Down 3G Network

By Ross Moyo

Econet Wireless Zimbabwe will switch off its 3G network by the end of December 2027 as part of a broader plan to refarm spectrum for 4G and 5G expansion.

CEO Dr Douglas Mboweni said only a small proportion of customers remain on 3G, and the move will improve data speeds and service quality. The company will keep 2G running for longer to accommodate rural users who still rely on basic feature phones.

“We must give rural customers more time to replace their phones while supporting them with affordable handsets and flexible payment terms,” Mboweni said. “We will first upgrade network coverage and then help customers in rural communities migrate to 4G as the minimum standard.”

The operator has already ordered equipment for its network upgrade and is building an independent power system to improve resilience. The modernisation programme will require annual investment of hundreds of millions of dollars.

Econet is also calling on handset suppliers to stop selling 2G and 3G-only devices and is rolling out a system to detect “grey handsets” that do not meet specifications.

The 2027 deadline aligns with regional peers. Rwanda will shut 3G on June 30 2027 and South Africa on December 31 2027.