SmarTone Waves Goodbye to 3G, Eyes 5G Expansion in Hong Kong This October

SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited has announced its plans to permanently halt its 3G mobile services come October 9, 2026. The move is part of the company’s proactive transition to more sophisticated mobile technologies.

Shifting to Advanced Technologies

The decision, according to SmarTone, will aid in the enhancement of its 5G network. This comes as the company sees a steady decrease in 3G usage within its clientele, with only about 1% of its total mobile customer base still utilizing the 3G network as of June 2026.

In preparation for this imminent network shift, SmarTone has been informing impacted clients since last year, urging them to update their mobile devices and SIM cards prior to the shutdown of the 3G network.

This impending shutdown comes on the heels of SmarTone’s previous discontinuation of its 2G network in 2022, a move that mirrors the wider sector’s gradual withdrawal from outdated mobile technologies.

Established in 1992, SmarTone is a Sun Hung Kai Properties affiliate based in Hong Kong. The operator, which once had a foothold in Macau, withdrew from the market in 2024.

Retiring Legacy Networks

SmarTone joins the list of Hong Kong operators bidding farewell to legacy networks. China Mobile Hong Kong (CMHK) also closed its 3G services the previous year as part of a territory-wide shift to modernize infrastructure.

On a global scale, telecom operators are ceasing operations of 2G and 3G networks to free up beneficial spectrum for 4G LTE and 5G services. This strategic move not only increases network capacity and efficiency, but also caters to the escalating demand for mobile data.