Nearly two decades after 3G technology transformed Nigeria from a voice-first telecom market into a mobile internet economy, the technology is approaching its final chapter. MTN Group, the largest mobile operator on the African continent, has confirmed plans to decommission some of its 3G networks before 2030.
The announcement came during MTN Group's Capital Markets Day on June 11, 2026, where Selorm Adadevoh, MTN Group's Chief Commercial, Strategy and Transformation Officer, outlined the company's network evolution roadmap.
"The focus today for us is really on 3G shutdown. We should have quite a robust plan between now and 2030 to shut down some of our 3G networks. From a technology and commercial basis, we actually do have readiness in some of our markets." — Selorm Adadevoh, MTN Group Chief Commercial, Strategy and Transformation Officer
No formal shutdown timeline has been announced specifically for Nigeria, but the direction across MTN's African markets is unambiguous. The operator intends to repurpose spectrum and tower infrastructure currently occupied by 3G assets toward expanding 4G and 5G coverage.
How 3G Built Nigeria's Digital Economy
Nigeria's 3G story began in 2006, when telecom operator Starcomms launched the country's first 3G service using Evolution-Data Optimised (EV-DO) technology. The service, initially designed for laptop data cards and USB modems, offered Nigerians an early alternative to cybercafés and fixed office connections.
Starcomms eventually shut down operations in August 2012, unable to survive fierce competition from GSM operators. However, its early investment helped establish the infrastructure groundwork for what followed.
The mass-market 3G rollout accelerated in March 2007, when Nigeria's telecoms regulator issued four licences in the 2GHz band. The recipients were MTN Nigeria, Celtel Nigeria — now operating as Airtel — Globacom, and Alheri Engineering, which later became Etisalat, then 9mobile, and is currently known as T2 Mobile. Each operator paid $150 million for spectrum rights, delivering $600 million directly into government revenue.
Those licences triggered a nationwide infrastructure race. By the end of 2006, 32 million Nigerians were actively connected to GSM networks, and 3G provided many of them with their first real experience of the internet. The technology powered the BlackBerry era, accelerated smartphone adoption, and provided the digital infrastructure on which Nigeria's earliest internet businesses were built. For more on how Africa's telecom evolution is shaping the continent's tech sector, see our AI and tech coverage.
The Economics Behind the 3G Exit
The decision to shut down 3G networks is driven as much by commercial logic as by technological progress. With user migration to 4G already well underway, maintaining 3G infrastructure has become an increasingly poor return on investment for operators.
"With fewer users on 3G, telcos are committing resources to a network that no longer delivers adequate returns. By decommissioning 3G cells, operators can free up spectrum and tower capacity to deploy more 4G and 5G services, where demand and revenue growth are increasingly concentrated." — Osita Odafi, Telecom Industry Expert
Osita Odafi, a telecom industry expert who spoke to TechCabal, framed the shutdown as a spectrum efficiency play. Freed 3G assets — including tower capacity and radio spectrum — can be redeployed to accelerate 4G coverage in underserved areas and support nascent 5G rollouts across key urban markets.
A Continental Trend With Local Implications
MTN Group's 3G shutdown plans are part of a broader African telco movement. Across the continent, operators are accelerating migration strategies to free up legacy network infrastructure. Nigeria, as MTN's largest single market by subscribers, will be central to how that strategy unfolds.
The transition also raises questions about connectivity equity. Nigeria still has millions of subscribers in areas where 4G coverage remains patchy, and a rushed 3G exit could temporarily reduce network access for vulnerable communities. The latest industry reports suggest regulators across Africa are watching these decommissioning timelines closely.
What began with Starcomms and a handful of USB modems in 2006 is now entering its final phase. The network that built Nigeria's mobile internet economy will, within the next few years, quietly hand over to the technologies that will define the next chapter of African connectivity. Operators and policymakers now face the task of managing that handover without leaving anyone behind. Follow our phones and networks coverage for updates as MTN's timeline becomes clearer.