Office of the Communications Authority - Users of the Second Generation (2G) / Third Generation Mobile (3G) to Upgrade to Higher Generation of Mobile Services / Devices

Mobile technologies have been evolving rapidly over the past decades in the globe. With the launch of the fourth generation mobile (4G) services in the early 2010s and of the fifth generation mobile (5G) services in April 2020, over 99% of mobile service users in Hong Kong are now enjoying mobile experiences that 4G or 5G technologies bring about. In order to cope with the continual increasing demand of customers for more advanced mobile services, some mobile network operators (MNOs) have successively ceased their provision of 2G services and even 3G services so as to re-deploy the vacated radio spectrum in support of higher generations of mobile technologies.

Further to the cessation of 2G services by Hutchison Telephone Company Limited ("Hutchison"), SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited ("SmarTone") and Hong Kong Telecommunications (HKT) Limited ("HKT") on 30 September 2021, 14 October 2022, and 8 November 2024 respectively¹, and of 3G services by China Mobile Hong Kong Company Limited ("CMHK") on 30 June 2025², CMHK, being the last local MNO providing 2G services, has applied for and received the Communications Authority's prior consent to cease the provision of its 2G services starting from 23 June 2026. For details, please refer to the press release issued by the Office of the Communications Authority. After the phased shutdown of 2G mobile networks by individual MNOs, 23 June 2026 will mark the end of the 2G era in Hong Kong.

At present, mobile services worldwide are predominantly 4G / 5G services and 6G era will approach in several years. The exit of 2G services in Hong Kong is in line with the global trend. After the cessation of 2G services, MNOs could focus their resources and radio spectrum on developing next-generation network technologies and providing diversified telecommunications services which are conducive to the overall economic development in the future.

OFCA appeals 2G / 3G service subscribers or customers using 2G / 3G mobile devices to contact their respective service providers for information if they have any enquiries about the services they are currently using, and to consider upgrading their service plans and mobile devices as early as possible. OFCA also encourages members of the public to assist their family members and friends, especially the elderly, in upgrading their services to ensure the continuity of mobile services and to experience better service quality and more advanced and diversified features provided by the newer generations of mobile services.

Office of the Communications Authority

16 December 2025

Note 1: The Communications Authority granted prior consent in July 2021, August 2022 and August 2024 for the applications made by Hutchison, SmarTone and HKT respectively to cease their provision of 2G services.

Note 2: The Communications Authority also granted prior consent in April 2025 for the application made by CMHK to cease its provision of 3G services.