Major mobile provider will shut key service TODAY leaving some with no data

A MAJOR mobile provider will shut off one of its key services today – leaving users unable to access data.

O2 started deactivating its 3G network in April, and today punters in Scotland will be pummelled by the disruption.

They’ll still be able to make calls and send text messages – as well as getting online when using Wi-Fi at home.

Customers in the North-east of Scotland, including Aberdeen and Dundee, will have their 3G service shut down.

Jeanie York, Virgin Media O2’s Chief Technology Officer, said: “We’re fast approaching the end of 2025 and 3G will soon be a thing of the past, replaced by faster, more reliable and more energy-efficient 4G and 5G networks that give our customers a better experience.

“We know that the vast majority of our customers already have a 4G or 5G handset and will not have to take any action, and we’re writing directly to those who will be impacted to provide guidance and support.”

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It’s all part of Government and industry-agreed target to remove legacy 3G and replace it with newer, faster 4G and 5G.

O2 is the last network to do so, after EE and VodafoneThree.

The first place where O2 switched off 3G was in the city of Durham.

Norwich, Telford, Guildford, Torquay and Watford have since followed.

The move comes days after O2 announced that it will launch a new satellite service next year in a UK first.

O2 Satellite will rely on Elon Musk‘s Starlink to beam connectivity in areas where there is no signal.

In October, thousands of Vodafone customers reported their internet services had gone down.

Most people said they were having issues with their broadband at home, while a smaller number had problems with their mobile internet.

Customers had been complaining on social media, with one person writing: “@VodafoneUK just me or have you fallen off the planet? No broadband, no website, no cell signal?”

Another wrote: “Looks like @vodafone are using a big outage as my broadband and mobile data have gone off …”

However, service returned to normal for the vast majority of punters following the disruption.

People with the My Vodafone app were at one point unable to access their account details or their free offers.

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Meanwhile customers also said they couldn’t get through to Vodafone’s phone line.

Other customers made reports of issues with other providers, such as Virgin Media, but this could have been due to issues getting through to friends or family who are with Vodafone.

Is the 3G switch off that big of a deal?

Analysis by Jamie Harris, Assistant Technology and Science Editor at The Sun

It’s unclear exactly how many people will be affected by the 3G switch off.

There wasn’t much noise after Three, EE and Vodafone ended 3G.

So, there will undoubtedly be some still using 3G-only phones but the numbers are probably very small.

Just because it may be a small figure doesn’t mean those people should be cast aside, especially if they’re not very tech-savvy or vulnerable.

So definitely look out for support communications from O2 – and speak to them if you’re unsure.

Image credit: Getty