End of an era – 3G logs off as Spark and One NZ complete shutdowns

3G Shutdown Complete Nationwide

The New Zealand telecommunications sector has closed its final 3G mobile networks and as of April 2026 we move to a 4G+ world.   Mobile Network Operators still want customers to check their mobile devices can still make 111 calls, following this transition.  “Millions of New Zealanders have engaged with the public awareness campaign, including a strong response to the free text ‘3G’ to 550 checker tool, which enables customers to […]

End of an era – 3G logs off as Spark and One NZ complete shutdowns

The technology which transformed mobile communication is no more. Spark New Zealand announced the final shutdown of its 3G service this week, while One New Zealand completed its region by region switch off for both its 2G and 3G networks last week. This follows after 2degrees shuttered its network in February, becoming the first local telco to do so. One NZ chief technology officer Kieran Byrne said retiring 3G was the end of an era, but an impo…