The government, on July 27, announced plans to phase out 2G and 3G mobile networks as the country moves towards wider use of 4G and 5G technologies.

The 3G network is scheduled to be switched off nationwide by June 30, 2027, while the 2G network is expected to follow at a later stage.

But what exactly changes from one generation of mobile technology to another?

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From basic calls and SMS on 2G to faster internet on 4G and low-latency connectivity on 5G, each generation has introduced new capabilities and changed how people use mobile networks.

Here is a brief look at the differences between 2G, 3G, 4G and 5G, and what each generation is designed to offer.

2G: Basic calls and SMS

2G, or second-generation mobile technology, was designed mainly for voice calls and text messages. 2G is the direct successor to 1G, the technology that used analog signals for voice calls and could not transfer data. 1G was entirely replaced when the world moved to 2G.

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2G supports basic data services, but at much lower speeds than later technologies. Despite being an older technology, 2G is still used by some basic phones and connected devices such as trackers, meters and security systems.

3G: Mobile internet takes off

3G introduced significantly faster mobile data services, making internet browsing, email, social media and other online services more practical on mobile phones.

It also made services such as video calls and mobile multimedia more accessible.

However, as smartphones and data-heavy applications became more common, demand shifted towards networks with higher speed and greater capacity.

4G: Faster and more reliable mobile internet

4G brought another major increase in mobile internet speeds and data capacity.

It supports many of the services people now use every day, including video streaming, social media, online learning, video calls and mobile applications.

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4G also supports Voice over LTE (VoLTE), which allows voice calls to be carried over the 4G network.

For most users, a 4G phone provides enough connectivity for everyday mobile internet use.

5G: More speed, capacity and lower latency

5G is designed to provide faster connections, greater network capacity and lower latency, the time it takes for data to travel between a device and the network.

This makes 5G useful not only for smartphones but also for applications that require quick responses and large amounts of data.

These include industrial applications, connected devices, innovation and other emerging digital services.

In Rwanda, 5G deployment has started in selected strategic locations in Kigali, with operators planning to expand coverage over time.

Why Rwanda is moving from 2G and 3G to 4G and 5G

The government said operating several generations of mobile technology at the same time is costly and uses valuable radio spectrum that could instead support newer networks.

Retiring 2G and 3G will allow operators to focus more investment and network capacity on 4G and 5G.

The transition is also expected to improve access to faster digital services and support new applications that require greater network capacity.

Rwanda plans to switch off 3G nationwide on June 30, 2027. The 2G network will be retired at a later stage, with the government currently working towards December 2028, subject to a readiness assessment.