The 3G legacy network is no longer available in 2026, according to the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center. Telecommunication companies have already decommissioned 3G SIM cards. Meanwhile, 2G networks will remain until mid-2026 for use in RFID tags.
In Manila, Philippines, the Cybercrime Investigation and Coordinating Center (CICC) announced that the 3G legacy network is no longer available in 2026, according to executive director Renato Paraiso. He stated that telecommunication companies have already decommissioned 3G subscriber identity module or SIM cards.
In an interview on OnePH, Paraiso noted that 2G networks will remain until the middle of 2026, as they are still used in radio-frequency identification or RFID tags. This follows efforts to counter threat actors who hijack legitimate message threads of banks, government agencies, and public services.
These actors disrupt carrier signals and inject rogue signals to bypass network safeguards, the CICC explained. In response, the CICC met with telecommunications providers, who agreed to phase out 2G and 3G technologies.
The move aims to enhance security against cyber threats in the country.
