Beeline, the brand of VimpelCom, has announced the initiation of the shutdown process for 3G networks. This move signals a shift toward faster and more efficient mobile broadband, which means users with older smartphones and basic mobile devices may need to upgrade to continue accessing the internet with reliable speeds.
The rollout is currently taking place in Moscow and the surrounding region, with a broader national plan on the horizon. The initial phase targets the 2.1 GHz frequency band to be repurposed for LTE, enabling a stronger, more capable 4G network. Meanwhile, the 900 MHz spectrum, historically used for 3G, will remain in service but will be dedicated to voice transmission only, separating data traffic from voice calls to optimize network performance.
This transition should not impact users who rely on feature phones with simple capabilities. In the Moscow area, 3G traffic accounts for a small portion of total mobile data usage, and the user base on 3G is modest. Beeline has stated that transferring the 3G spectrum to the 4G registry is expected to increase data network capacity by about half, translating to faster downloads, smoother streaming, and improved reliability for most smartphone users.
Looking ahead, the company plans to extend the same modernization approach to more than 25 regions across the country by the end of the year. Other mobile operators have not yet disclosed equivalent timelines, but industry observers anticipate that additional providers will pursue similar upgrades to align with prevailing global standards for mobile connectivity and user experience.