This article originally appeared on Vulcan Post.
Earlier this year, Singapore announced plans for next-generation 5G mobile services to be developed, with trials expected to begin in 2020. But as newer, improved services get offered to Singaporeans, have you wondered what actually happens to older, less efficient ones like 2G networks?
Well, it seems Singapore is set to put an end to 2G voice and messaging services from April 2017, according to a report by The Straits Times. Yesterday, the three local telcos — Singtel, StarHub and M1 — announced that this development will take place in order for existing 2G airwaves to be directed towards enhancing the speeds and capacity of 3G and 4G services.
Launched in 1994, 2G services today are used by only a small group of mobile subscribers — 250,000, or 3% of a total of 8 million subscriptions. And with Singapore emerging as the country with the highest rate of smartphone adoption in the world, it comes as no surprise that the Infocomm Development Authority (IDA) of Singapore expects 2G users to gradually switch to better, faster networks over the next two years.
At this point, you might be wondering what the fate of those using handsets with 2G-only networks will be. The good news is that they — or you, as the case may be — won’t have to face service disruptions; all you have to do is change your handset to one that runs with 3G or 4G networks — you won’t have to change your SIM cards just yet.
So goodbye 2G, we won’t miss you.