Qatar’s Communications Regulatory Authority issued shutdown of 3G network by December 31

The Communications Regulatory Authority (CRA) of Qatar made a ruling mandating the termination of 3G networks within the nation by December 31, 2025. According to the regulator, CRA made the decision as part of its strategic goals and continuing initiatives to improve the effectiveness and caliber of telecom services provided in Qatar.

Furthermore, the Communications Regulation Authority (CRA) has decided to immediately prohibit the import of mobile phones that support only 2G and 3G technologies, while accepting handsets that are compatible with VoLTE technology and have received type approval certificates from the CRA.

According to GSMA Intelligence, as of the end of June, Ooredoo Qatar has over 81,000 3G connections on its network, compared to nearly 10,800 for rival Vodafone Qatar. This is in contrast to the 2.7 million and 2.1 million total connections made across all generations, respectively.

Many nations have already stopped offering 3G services, most notably the United States and Japan. In the United Kingdom, EE and Vodafone have finished their separate shutdowns this year. Local cellphone providers in Singapore are likewise laying the groundwork for the discontinuation of 3G services.