Eir begins 3G service shutdown across Ireland

One of the last mobile firms to retire the service

Older devices that only connect to 3G and 2G will still make and receive calls over 2G, but data will be much slower.

Mobile firm Eir has begun switching off its 3G network with the service to end by the end of this month.

The shutdown will also impact customers of GoMo and Lyca which use the Eir network.

In an update, the company said the service was retired in Donegal last week and will be followed by parts of the north/west and east on October 14 and southern counties on October 28.

Eir said the switch-off is part of its ongoing mobile network evolution. It is the latest operator to drop 3G in an industry-wide shift to newer technologies.

Vodafone switched off its 3G network in October 2024, which also retired it for Clear Mobile and An Post customers with Three carrying out the process around the same time.

Eir has contacted customers using 3G-only services directly, with guidance that may include updating device settings, a free replacement SIM card, or moving to a compatible device.

The changes mean older devices that only connect to 3G and 2G will still make and receive calls over 2G, but data will be much slower. Eir has contacted customers using 3G-only services directly, with guidance that may include updating device settings, a free replacement SIM card, or moving to a compatible device.

The communications regulator ComReg's list of devices that could be affected includes vehicles, care alarms, security and fire alarms, point-of-sale card terminals, inventory trackers, GPS trackers, automated gates and heating systems. 

Eir, which has 1.6 million mobile customers, said only a small number of customers use 3G for data, calls and texts. 

Chief technology officer Fergal McCann said retiring 3G will help Eir focus its network investment on newer technologies. "Retiring 3G will help us focus our network investment on newer technologies that are delivering the best experience for customers today. Our priority is to keep the transition simple, clear and fully supported for the very small number of 3G-only customers who need to take action," he said.

The retirement of the 3G technology will ultimately free up bandwidth on the radio spectrum for 4G and 5G services, allowing them to carry more data.