Swiss operator Sunrise announced plans to phase out its GSM network by the end of 2018. GSM, GPRS and EDGE will be ended by the end of 2018 in favour of expanded 4G and 4G+ coverage. The operator targets 92 percent 4G coverage by the end of 2017 already and is also introducing VoLTE, in addition to Wi-Fi calling, so customers no longer need to fall back to the 3G or 2G networks for voice.
Sunrise said it will start notifying customers this month already of the planned 2G shutdown. They will be offered upgrade options to ensure they can benefit fully from 4G, and business customers will be provided with assistance to ensure all their applications are supported. The company noted that its focus on low-band spectrum, in the 800 MHz band, for rolling out its 4G network means customers will still benefit from good coverage indoors.
