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UAE: 2G mobile network to shut in December 2022

Dubai - The announcement regarding the same has been made by the Telecommunications And Digital Government Regulatory Authority in UAE.

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The sale of mobile devices, that support only 2G networks will be stopped in the UAE, starting June 2022.

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According to a tweet by the Telecommunications And Digital Government Regulatory Authority (TDRA) in UAE, the second-generation GSM networks will be closed completely in December 2022.

The activation of the 2G network (GSM) in the UAE dates back to 1994, and it is still effective to date, despite the succession of network generations up to 5G, which the UAE has been in the lead of its application through a comprehensive strategy and clear roadmap.

This decision comes as part of the Authority’s continuous efforts in the deployment of 5G in the UAE as the main engine of the digital transformation process, the fourth industrial revolution and artificial intelligence, it said in a statement earlier.

Etisalat, the UAE’s largest telecom operator, will also gradually shut down its 2G mobile network services and the full plan will be completed by the end of next year. This is because, switching to advanced networks such as 5G, offers faster mobile data speed, fewer call drops as well as better call quality.

“We want you to connect faster than ever, which is why we will gradually start shutting down our current 2G mobile network services. We’ll begin the shutdown in phases with the full plan to be completed by the end of 2022,” a statement posted on Etisalat’s website said.

“Whatever your budget is, we have a 3G, 4G or 5G compatible device just for you. We also have a wide range of the latest mobile devices at competitive prices, with entry-level devices starting at Dh126,” said the UAE’s largest telecom operator.

waheedabbas@khaleejtimes.com

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