One NZ begins nationwide 3G shutdown

One New Zealand has started turning off its 3G network, beginning in Dunedin on 20 January and aiming to complete the shutdown across the country by 17 March. The operator will also fully decommission its 2G calling network by the end of March.

CTO Kieran Byrne said the move frees up radio spectrum for 4G and 5G, which he argued should improve speeds, coverage and reliability. Most of One NZ’s 2.3 million customers already use 4G, and by the end of 2025 the company had 1.3 million 5G connections, or 56 per cent of its user base, according to GSMA Intelligence. The operator upgraded 258 mobile sites in 2025, now all running 4G and many also supporting 5G. Competitors 2degrees and Spark are on similar timelines, with 2degrees’ 3G shutdown starting on 12 December and Spark targeting completion by the end of March.