3G Switch Off for Business. One NZ.

The 3G switch-off is coming.

As the 4G and 5G rollout across Aotearoa increases momentum, it’s now time to look ahead and prepare to farewell the 3G network. By the end of March 2025, when you'll be able to access 4G everywhere you currently have 3G (or 5G, where available), we will switch off the 3G network.

Everything you do now on 3G will be significantly better on 4G - and even more so on 5G. Plus, our 5G coverage will continue to expand further as we, like many other mobile network providers worldwide, reallocate resources towards the 5G rollout.

There's still plenty of time to make the move, though, and we'll be with you every step of the way.

What can I do now?

If your team is already using 4G/5G mobile data and/or voice calling (sometimes named "VoLTE calling" in your network settings), then you’re good to go - there's nothing to do except enjoy the best possible connection in your area.

If you’re not using 4G/5G mobile data and voice calling, you’ll need to check your phone’s compatibility first, which will guide what action you need to take. You can check what model your current phones are in the phone’s settings. Then, check their 4G compatibility at one.nz/our-networks/volte/ or visit your nearest One NZ store and speak to one of our team.

If you’re using a 5G phone, 4G Calling should already be enabled, unless the call settings have been manually changed to 3G only.
If you’re using a 4G phone, you will still need to check if it is capable with 4G/VoLTE calling. If it is capable, ensure you have the latest software updates, then set up 4G Calling following these instructions and you’re sorted. If it is not capable, you’ll need to upgrade by 31 March 2025 to continue making voice calls.
If you’re using a 3G phone, you’ll need to upgrade it by 31 March 2025 to stay connected.
1. If your team members are on a One NZ Pay Monthly Endless Business mobile plan, consider upgrading their phones by buying interest-free. Check out your options here.
2. If some of your team are currently on One NZ consumer prepay plans, now is a good time to think about switching them to a Pay Monthly Endless Business mobile plan instead and taking advantage of the phone deals available on these plans. For more information, click here.

Frequently asked questions

When will the 3G network switch off?

The 3G network will be switched off on 31 March 2025. To ensure you stay connected, you'll need to upgrade your devices before then.

How will coverage be improved when 3G is switched off?

Switching off 3G will allow us to bring 5G to more people across Aotearoa. As we continue to roll out 5G, we’ll repurpose the 3G spectrum to increase 5G coverage.

Will in-building coverage solutions be affected when 3G switches off?

In-building coverage solutions that only work on 3G will need to be replaced before the end of March 2025. Affected customers will be contacted in the coming months to discuss their options, but if you have any queries regarding your existing solution, contact your One NZ Account Manager or Service Manager.

Will Circuit Switched Data (CSD) be affected when 3G switches off?

After 3G switches off, CSD services will fall back to 2G however the data speed will be much slower and there is less coverage around NZ and 2G itself will also be switched off at the end of 2025. So we recommend switching to a 4G or 5G mobile data service instead - contact your Account Manager or Service Manager to discuss your options.

How can our team members improve poor coverage at home?

For better coverage at home, we recommend using Wifi Calling. Wifi Calling allows calls to be made over Wifi in areas with poor coverage. All business services will have Wifi Calling enabled before the 3G network switches off.

What happens to team members with older mobile devices when 3G switches off?

If you don't upgrade their phones to ones fully capable with 4G before the 3G network switches off, they will fall back to our older 2G network - but only until the end of 2025, when 2G will also be switched off. The 2G network provides an inferior experience, with very slow data speeds, low call quality and less network coverage around Aotearoa. Then, when the 2G network shuts down at the end of 2025, their phones will stop working altogether on our network.

What happens to 3G dongles and other 3G-connected devices after the switch-off?

Once 3G switches off, these devices will fall back to 2G but with much slower data speeds. We recommend upgrading to 4G devices for data connectivity as soon as possible to ensure the best data experience.

Will my Wireless Modem or Homephone Wireless device be affected?

There are a few older devices that will be affected when we shut down the 3G network:

3G only data modems with or without landline calling.
4G data modems that use 3G for landline calling (if they are only used for data then no changes are required).
Homephone Wireless 3G devices used for landline calling.

Don’t worry if you have one of these devices, we will be contacting you soon to let you know exactly what will happen.

How will embedded systems, Machine to Machine (M2M), and Internet of Things (IoT) devices be affected when 3G switches off?

What happens will depend on the device, the service, and coverage in your area. In the coming months, we'll continue communicating with affected businesses we’re already in touch with and reach out to others we know will be affected. We also recommend proactively reviewing applications that use these technologies and conducting your own technological assessment. Then, if you have any questions or want to discuss your options, contact your One NZ Account Manager or Service Manager.

IoT - 3G switch off

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