Communications Authority grants consent to SmarTone to cease its 3G services
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Having considered various relevant factors, the CA approved the application pursuant to Special Condition 10.4 of SmarTone's Unified Carrier Licence. These include the very low proportion of customers affected (including customers who are still using 3G handsets/devices and those using older models of 4G handsets/devices that only support the older version of VoLTE (Note) technology), and SmarTone's provision of support services for the affected customers such as offers to replace handsets/devices. For customers who choose not to replace their handsets/devices and not to continue the service, SmarTone will make reasonable service termination arrangements and provide them with sufficient advance notification and customer service support. Moreover, the CA has required SmarTone to maintain satisfactory 3G services until the scheduled service cessation date.
Affected customers may refer to the relevant press release issued by SmarTone today or contact the company for details of the arrangements.
With the phased shutdown of 3G mobile networks by individual mobile network operators, OFCA takes this opportunity to call on customers of 3G service, and those who are still using 3G handsets/devices and older models of 4G handsets, to upgrade their service plans and handsets/devices. In addition, OFCA encourages members of the public to assist their family and friends, especially the elderly, in upgrading their services in order to experience better service quality and more advanced and diversified features provided by the newer generations of mobile services.
At present, 4G and 5G services are the mainstream mobile services globally, and the 6G era will arrive in a few years. Over 99 per cent of mobile service users in Hong Kong are now enjoying the mobile experience brought by 4G or 5G technologies. To cope with the continued customer demand for more advanced mobile services, mobile network operators' cessation of their 3G services is in line with the global development trend. They can re-deploy the vacated radio spectrum and focus their resources in support of newer generations of mobile technologies.
Note: VoLTE, Voice over Long Term Evolution (LTE), is a technology that enables voice calls to be made over a 4G LTE network instead of falling back to 2G or 3G networks.
Ends/Friday, July 24, 2026
Issued at HKT 16:43
Issued at HKT 16:43
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