Regulatory Compliance News

Philippines NTC to Phase Out 2G/3G Networks and Introduce Device Certification Restrictions

The Philippine National Telecommunications Commission (NTC) has issued a new Memorandum Circular signed on August 28, 2025, introducing a structured national plan for the phased shutdown of legacy 2G and 3G networks. The Circular will take effect 15 days after official publication and brings significant implications for both network operators and device manufacturers.

Phased 2G / 3G Network Shutdown

• • All Public Telecommunications Entities (PTEs), including major operators such as Globe and Smart, must implement an area-specific phased shutdown of 2G and 3G services.
• • The nationwide decommissioning of 2G and 3G networks must be fully completed no later than December 31, 2026.
• • The phased approach is intended to minimize service disruption while enabling migration to newer technologies.

Device Certification and Market Access Restrictions

• • Within 60 days from the Circular’s effectivity, the NTC will no longer accept Type Approval or Type Acceptance applications for devices with exclusive or primary 2G/3G functionality.
• • Devices previously approved as 2G/3G-only will be flagged in the NTC licensing database for phased deactivation.
• • The NTC will work with manufacturers, importers, distributors, and retailers to restrict the importation and sale of 2G/3G-only devices in the Philippine market.

To support implementation, the NTC has indicated that a separate guideline will be released to further define the phased retirement process for affected mobile devices and telecommunications equipment.

Industry Impact: Manufacturers and suppliers are strongly encouraged to review their product portfolios and certification pipelines to ensure alignment with LTE, 5G, and multi-band technologies, as legacy-only devices will soon lose eligibility for approval and market entry.