UMTS in Switzerland: Swisscom switches off 3G network

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In Switzerland, Swisscom is officially discontinuing its services that utilize the third-generation mobile standard 3G (UMTS - Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) as of today (December 31, 2025).

Swisscom (in which the Swiss Confederation still holds a 51 percent stake) announced the shutdown of its 3G network in March 2022, providing the first information about a planned discontinuation at that time. The aim was to allow customers sufficient time to replace their 3G devices, as these devices will no longer function in 2026. Business customers and institutions were also to be given ample time for the conversion or acquisition of numerous networked technical systems (e.g., IoT/M2M communication).

No more webcam views of the mountains

Among the devices that will no longer function are, to the dismay of many, a number of 3G webcams in the mountains that have been providing information about weather conditions online for 20 years, as Swiss media recently reported. Their replacement was discussed but ultimately discarded, according to Swisscom.

Swisscom calls the process that has now begun the "3G phase-out." According to their spokesperson Sepp Huber, this means that "the shutdown of 3G will take place gradually and be distributed across Switzerland." This is expected to take several weeks. Swisscom emphasizes that the shutdown also affects 4G-capable mobile phones that do not support VoLTE telephony or emergency calls over 4G.

Less than one percent of traffic

3G mobile technology was introduced in Switzerland by Swisscom in 2004, enabling fast mobile internet for the first time. However, 3G – often also called UMTS at the time – has long been considered obsolete. According to Swisscom, "significantly less than one percent of mobile data traffic runs on its 3G network today, but the technology occupies about ten percent of antenna capacity." The 3G network also requires much more power than 4G or 5G.

"The shutdown of 3G – like the shutdown of 2G five years ago – creates space for new, more efficient technologies and allows for the even more efficient use of scarce resources such as transmission power, frequency spectrum, and electricity," the company emphasizes.

Swisscom now expects a long coexistence of 4G and 5G. No date has currently been set for a future shutdown of 4G; Swisscom intends to provide at least three years' notice before any potential 4G shutdown.

Three major mobile network operators

Three major operators with their own networks supply Switzerland with mobile communications – the largest of which is Swisscom (around 54 percent mobile market share, end of 2024, according to ComCom) – followed by telecommunications providers Sunrise and Salt in second and third place.

While the telecommunications company Salt (formerly Orange) plans to shut down its 3G network only at the end of 2026, according to a company spokesperson speaking to heise online, the second-largest Swiss telecommunications company, Sunrise, has long been active.

"We have gradually shut down the 3G network starting in June 2025, so it has been unavailable since mid-August 2025," says Rolf Ziebold, media spokesperson for Sunrise. "The 2G shutdown took place almost three years ago, in spring 2023."

According to its own statements, Sunrise is the first mobile provider in Europe to operate exclusively with 4G (LTE) and 5G in combination with a nationwide 5G SA network. Sunrise introduced "5G Standalone" (5G SA) in spring 2025 as the sole provider nationwide. Smartphones (and all other 5G SA-capable devices) connect directly to 5G without relying on 4G. This means lower latency, longer battery life, and stronger indoor coverage, Sunrise emphasizes. The introduction of 5G SA is also imminent for Swisscom. In the corporate sector, dedicated 5G SA solutions (Private 5G Networks) are already being offered with Ericsson.

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