Rwandans on 3G phones will lose service by June 2027

Rwanda will shut down its nationwide 3G mobile service on 30 June 2027, cutting off a legacy network to free up spectrum for faster 4G and 5G connectivity, the government confirmed this week. The 2G network will be retired at a later date, with authorities currently targeting December 2028, though that timeline remains dependent on a formal readiness assessment.

The switch-off plan

The phased retirement was approved by the Government of Rwanda and is being coordinated by the Ministry of ICT and Innovation (MINICT) and the Rwanda Utilities Regulatory Authority (RURA), according to an official release. The shutdown will unfold in stages to give mobile operators, businesses, and the public time to migrate.

During 2026, operators are expected to expand 4G coverage, confirm that voice-over-LTE (VoLTE) calling is reliable, identify all services and devices that still depend on 2G or 3G, and run trial shutdowns in selected areas. In the first half of 2027, providers must finish migrating critical systems, notify customers, strengthen support services, and form a joint team to handle issues that arise after the switch-off.

“The nationwide switch-off of 3G services is scheduled for June 30, 2027, followed by the retirement of 2G services,” the ministry said in a statement reported by Xinhua.

Why the government is pulling the plug

The core rationale is spectrum efficiency. Keeping aging 2G and 3G networks alive consumes radio spectrum and operator resources that could instead be used to deepen 4G coverage and lay the groundwork for 5G. In its public statement, MINICT explained the trade-off clearly.

“This transition will free up network capacity currently used to run two generations of aging technology, allowing mobile operators to invest fully in expanding and strengthening 4G and, over time, 5G coverage across the country.”

The government says users should see concrete improvements after the migration: faster internet speeds, better call quality, fewer dropped connections, and stronger access to mobile banking, online government services, education platforms, and health tools, Xinhua and AllAfrica reported.

Who needs to move — and how fast

The deadline puts pressure on any person, business, or public institution still relying on a 3G-only handset or on machine-to-machine systems built around 2G or 3G connectivity. MINICT and RURA are running the transition through a working group that includes mobile operators, government bodies, the financial sector, and other affected organisations, the government release confirmed.

Businesses using 2G- or 3G-dependent equipment in payments, transport, health, public safety, and public administration have been told to begin planning replacements or upgrades now, according to Mobile Europe. Separately, the government is also working with device suppliers and private-sector stakeholders to improve access to affordable 4G-enabled handsets so the switch-off does not leave low-income users disconnected.

What's next

The 3G date is fixed. For 2G, the government is working toward a December 2028 switch-off, but that target will only be confirmed after checking network coverage, service continuity, the number of people still using older phones, the migration of dependent systems, and overall national readiness. The plan follows a Cabinet briefing on 24 July 2026 chaired by President Paul Kagame, where the infrastructure modernization initiative was presented, AllAfrica reported. Pilot shutdowns in 2026 will serve as the first real-world test of whether the ecosystem is ready to leave 3G behind for good.