08 July 2022

South Africa will ban the importation and distribution of 2G devices by end-February 2023, according to the country’s communications minister.

Speaking at the 2022 World Telecommunication Development Conference in Kigali, Rwanda, Khumbudzo Ntshavheni said the ban would help the “rainbow nation” shut down its 2G and 3G networks by 2025. The rationale behind the decision is to enable a robust programme to modernise South Africa’s networks, Ntshavheni stated.

She said South Africa’s mobile network operators would fully deploy 4G and 5G networks by 2025.

Ntshavheni also explained that these moves complement SA Connect, South Africa’s broadband connectivity drive.

“The goal of SA Connect is to ensure that all South Africans have access to the internet by 2024,” said Ntshavheni, before adding that the programme is driven through four initiatives.

Among these is satellite communication, with Ntshavheni announcing that South Africa is ready to launch its own satellite.

“The satellite will address both media and broadband connectivity objectives and will entrench our technology and data sovereignty,” she continued.
SA Connect’s other three initiatives all centre around connectivity at publicly-owned facilities.

MTN has said that it will likely switch off its 3G network before it can decommission 2G because the network remains in wide use for machine-to-machine applications.Vodacom previously announced plans to turn off its 2G network by 2024.

Cell C has said the prices of 4G and 5G-compatible devices were a significant barrier to switching off older network technologies.

In 2021, Vodacom called for regulatory intervention to stop the sale of cheap 2G-only cellphones in South Africa.

These devices are sold through independent retail chains such as PEP, Ackermans, and Mr Price.