South Africa to ban 2G devices by March 2023

South Africa will no longer allow the importation and distribution of 2G and 3G devices and is planning to shut down their network towers by March 2023. This was revealed by Communications and Digital Technologies Minister, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni at the 2022 World Telecommunication Development Conference in Kigali, Rwanda recently.

Sa to shut down 2G and 3G network towers
Ntshavheni also revealed that South Africa is ready to launch its own satellite which will address both media broadband connectivity objectives and will entrench the country’s technology and data sovereignty.

“The SA Connect programme will be complemented by a robust programme to modernise our networks in partnership with industry which entails the full deployment of 4G and 5G networks by 2025.

“To enable this, we will shut down 2G and 3G networks over the same period and this financial year, we will commence with the prohibition of the importation and distribution in South Africa of 2G devices.” The South African