Vodacom: South Africa could switch off 3G within 12-24 months

Vodacom believes South Africa could be ready to shut down its 3G networks within 12-24 months, but operators must agree on a coordinated date. 3G handsets make up slightly below 10% of devices on Vodacom's South African network, and freed spectrum would be refarmed for 4G.

• 3G handsets account for slightly below 10% of devices on Vodacom's SA network
• Shutting off 3G would free spectrum for refarming to 4G
• Operators want a shared date announced a year in advance
• South Africa dropped its 31 December 2027 switch-off deadline in July 2025