Telefonica (O2) announced that it would start the switch-off of its 3G network in the first regions in July, to be completed nationwide by December.

The frequencies of the 16,000 3G transmitters that are currently still available will be used for the better 4G standard.

Gaps in mobile phone coverage are unlikely because most mobile phones are already connected to 4G. Older smartphones without 4G will have problems, but will default to the 2G standard for calls.

Almost all brand-name smartphones released in Germany have been 4G-compatible since 2016; with Apple iPhones, this has been the case since 2013.

3G technology was “getting on a bit, so we are replacing it by the end of the year,” said Telefonica’s boss in Germany, Markus Haas.

Currently, only 1 to 2 per cent of the mobile data volume transmitted at Telefonica is via 3G.

The original 3G auction brought the state around 50 billion euros in revenue following an auction of the relevant frequencies over 20 years ago.

Two other major network providers, Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom, have already announced plans to switch off their 3G networks this summer.