1. Under the Telecommunications (Dealers) Regulations and IMDA’s Equipment Registration Framework, dealers/equipment suppliers of cellular mobile terminals are required to register such terminals with IMDA before they may be sold for use in Singapore.
2. On 26 July 2023, IMDA together with Singtel Mobile Singapore Pte Ltd, StarHub Mobile Pte Ltd and M1 Limited (collectively the “MNOs”) announced the planned cessation of MNOs? 3G networks and the provision of 3G services, with effect from 31 July 2024.
3. With the impending cessation of the 3G networks, IMDA will stop accepting new registrations and renewals of 3G-only mobile terminals and non-VoLTE capable mobile/smart phones with effect from 1 November 2023.
4. With effect from 1 February 2024:
a. IMDA will de-register the approved registrations of 3G-only mobile terminals and non-VoLTE capable mobile/smart phones.
b. The sale of 3G-only mobile terminals and non-VoLTE capable mobile/smart phones for local use will accordingly no longer be allowed from 1 February 2024. Dealers/equipment suppliers who had previously registered such mobile terminals and mobile phones with IMDA shall stop all sale of such deregistered mobile terminals and mobile phones for local use by this date.
c. Only dealers/equipment suppliers who are granted Dealer (Individual) Licences by IMDA may import or offer for sale unregistered 3G-only mobile terminals and non-VoLTE capable mobile/smart phones for export purposes and/or use overseas only. In such cases, IMDA’s licence conditions in relation to the sale of non-registered telecommunication equipment will apply.
5. Dealers/equipment suppliers are required to do the following with effect from 26 July 2023:
a. When selling 3G-only mobile terminals and non-VoLTE capable mobile/smart phones to customers, dealers/equipment suppliers are to advise customers that 3G services will cease with effect from 31 July 2024. This will help ensure that these customers are fully aware and that they make an informed choice when purchasing such terminals/mobile phones, especially if they intend to use such terminals/mobile phones in Singapore.
b. If customers wish to purchase unregistered 3G-only mobile terminals and non-VoLTE capable mobile/smart phones for overseas use after 1 February 2024, dealers/equipment suppliers (who have a Dealer’s Individual Licence) may sell the mobile terminals to them, but only on the understanding that the mobile terminals are strictly for export purposes and/or for overseas use only.
6. The above measures will minimise the number of end users in Singapore who are still using 3G mobile terminals when 3G networks are gradually phased out with effect from 31 July 2024, and to avoid inconvenience to end users.
7. For customers purchasing 4G or 5G mobile/smart phones, dealers/equipment suppliers are also advised to ensure that Voice over LTE (VoLTE) is enabled, or assist the customer to enable VoLTE on the new mobile/smart phones and encourage them to make a test call to ensure that voice calls can be made through VoLTE. With the cessation of 3G networks, voice call services such as those to emergency services can only be made via VoLTE. If queried on the need to enable VoLTE, dealers/equipment suppliers should explain that the VoLTE settings are needed to make/receive voice calls, given the cessation of 3G networks.