Good news for Econet smartphone users as 3G faces shutdown — but bad news for kambudzi phone owners
Econet Wireless Zimbabwe is preparing to switch off its 3G network by the end of December 2027, opening the way for a major expansion of faster 4G and 5G services while putting pressure on customers who still rely on older phones.
The country’s largest mobile network operator says the change will improve network quality, release valuable radio spectrum and allow it to concentrate investment on technologies capable of handling the growing demand for video, cloud applications, artificial intelligence tools and other data-heavy services.
“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.”
The deadline means customers using phones that connect only to 3G will have to replace them before the shutdown. Those with basic 2G handsets, commonly known as kambudzi phones, will not face an immediate 2027 cut-off, but their technology is also expected to be retired later as Econet moves towards a network built around 4G and 5G.
Econet is delaying the 2G phase-out because the older network remains important in rural areas. Many subscribers outside the main towns still use feature phones for calls, text messages and mobile money services. In some communities, 2G remains the most practical option because smartphones are expensive, electricity supplies are unreliable and newer network coverage is not yet consistent.
“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 says it is already ordering equipment and expanding its 4G and 5G infrastructure across Zimbabwe. It is also developing an independent power system for its network sites as it seeks to keep base stations running during persistent electricity supply problems.
The wider modernisation programme is expected to require annual investment running into hundreds of millions of dollars. Econet has not presented the transition as a simple switch from one phone setting to another. It will involve new radio equipment, additional coverage, more reliable power and a large customer migration programme.
At present, Econet’s network includes 2,981 2G sites, 2,071 3G sites, 1,951 4G sites and 353 5G sites. The company’s decision to retire 3G is therefore being made while the older network still has a substantial physical footprint. Removing 3G equipment and reallocating its spectrum will allow more capacity to be assigned to 4G and 5G, where demand is rising fastest.
Spectrum is the limited radio space used to carry calls and data between mobile devices and network towers. Operators can improve capacity by reusing the same spectrum more efficiently, but they cannot keep expanding every generation of mobile technology indefinitely without increasing costs and putting pressure on available frequencies.
The service requires a 5G-compatible smartphone or an Econet 5G customer-premises equipment router. The router can connect several devices and is aimed at homes, offices and other users who need a fixed wireless broadband connection. Econet also offers payment plans intended to help customers move from older devices to phones and routers that support 4G and 5G.
Econet launched 5G in Zimbabwe in February 2022, becoming the first operator in the country to introduce the technology. On its website, the company describes the service in these terms: “Welcome to the era of super-speed 5G. On February 24th, 2022, we became the first to launch 5G technology in Zimbabwe, marking a bold step forward in our commitment to keep our customers at the forefront of innovation. With speeds up to 20 times faster than 4G, Econet 5G opens the door to a whole new world of digital possibilities,”
The company is now turning its attention to the quality of the devices connecting to its network. It has warned independent handset suppliers against selling phones that are limited to 2G and 3G and is urging retailers to focus on 4G- and 5G-compatible models.
Econet is also targeting so-called grey handsets. These are devices marketed as smartphones but which may not meet the technical specifications advertised to buyers. Some may support only certain network bands, while others may have software or hardware limitations that leave customers with slow or unreliable connections even when the phone is labelled as 4G-capable.
The operator has developed a system that can identify these devices when they attempt to connect to its network. Customers will be alerted if an affected handset is detected, and information will be passed to relevant authorities to help curb the sale of unsuitable or falsely advertised phones.
The warning adds another concern for buyers preparing for the 3G shutdown. A customer may purchase a phone advertised as a smartphone, only to discover that it does not support the local 4G bands or cannot deliver the speeds promised by the seller. Customers upgrading ahead of the deadline will need to check the device’s network specifications rather than relying only on its brand name or appearance.
The transition is part of a wider move away from older mobile networks. Rwanda has set 30 June 2027 as its nationwide 3G switch-off date, with 2G expected to follow after a readiness assessment. That assessment includes coverage, service continuity, affordable compatible handsets and the migration of services such as mobile money and emergency communications.
South Africa has also set the end of 2027 as a deadline for retiring older mobile technologies. In Europe, Germany and the Czech Republic completed their 3G shutdowns in 2021, while the United Kingdom completed its 3G phase-out by early 2025 and is preparing for the retirement of 2G between 2029 and 2033.
A similar migration has recently taken place in Ukraine, where Kyivstar moved more than one million subscribers from 3G to 4G. The change freed spectrum for the operator’s 4G network and increased the capacity available for mobile data.
For Econet customers in Zimbabwe, the message is straightforward: 3G-only phones have a deadline, and 2G-only phones have a longer future but not a permanent one. The company says it will expand coverage and provide affordable upgrade options, particularly for rural users, before the older networks are finally removed. For those already using compatible smartphones, the change promises faster connections and more capacity. For everyone still carrying a kambudzi phone, it is a warning to start planning the upgrade now.