Which Country Was the Last to Shut Down 1G?

The End of the 1G Era: When and Where It Finally Shut Down

For many people, the term “1G” brings nostalgia: the era of big brick phones, fuzzy voice calls, and limited coverage. But the story of 1G (first-generation mobile networks) is not just about quaint devices — it’s about the foundations of modern mobile telecommunications, and how they were gradually dismantled as digital systems emerged. In this article, we will explore why 1G disappeared, how the shutdown process unfolded around the world, and – importantly – which country was the last to turn off its 1G network.

What Was 1G — And Why Did It Disappear?

1G, or first-generation mobile technology, refers to the original analog cellular networks that began deploying in the late 1970s and early 1980s. These systems used analog radio waves to transmit voice, generally via frequency modulation (FM), much like older radio technology. Many of the 1G systems had no encryption, minimal security, and no capacity for data (no SMS, no mobile internet). As such, they were rapidly overtaken by digital networks.

By the 1990s, 2G (second generation) mobile technology — such as GSM, CDMA, and other digital systems — started to take over. These new networks offered several advantages:

• Better spectrum efficiency: Digital voice compression and more efficient use of radio frequencies allowed networks to support more users.

• Security: Digital networks could provide encryption and authentication, making calls more private and secure.

• Data services: Even the earliest 2G networks supported short messaging (SMS), and later versions enabled mobile data.

• Voice quality: Digital voice sounded clearer and more consistent than analog.

Because of these benefits, telecom operators around the world began phasing out their 1G networks, shifting users to digital systems. By the early 2000s, most countries had already decommissioned 1G in favor of 2G (and later 3G, 4G, and now 5G).

The Global Timeline of 1G Shutdown

The discontinuation of 1G did not happen simultaneously. Instead, each country phased out analog networks at its own pace, depending on infrastructure, regulatory environment, and the cost of migration. Here are some key moments:

These dates are approximate, as the shutdowns often occurred gradually rather than on a single “turn-off” day.

So, Which Country Was the Last to Shut Down 1G?

Based on the most credible publicly available information, Russia was the last country with a commercially operating 1G network. Its analog 1G system, NMT-450, remained in use in remote and rural areas long after most of the world had moved on. Reports suggest that Russia officially decommissioned its last 1G network in 2017.

By 2025, there are no known countries still running a commercially available 1G network.

Why Did Russia Keep 1G for So Long?

The fact that Russia was the final holdout for 1G isn’t entirely surprising when you consider several factors:

1. Geographic Challenges
   Russia is vast, with many remote and sparsely populated regions. In such places, maintaining modern digital infrastructure can be economically difficult. Analog systems like NMT-450 can cover wide areas at low cost, making them more viable for rural communities.

2. Legacy Use Cases
   Some users — particularly in remote or under-served areas — may have relied on older analog handsets and infrastructure. These might include utility companies, governmental services, or individuals who had no immediate incentive to upgrade.

3. Spectrum Reuse Complexity
   Shutting down analog networks means repurposing their frequency allocations. In some areas, regulators and operators may have delayed this process, especially where demand for digital services was low.

4. Investment Priorities
   Telecom operators may have prioritized building out 3G, 4G, or 5G networks in urban zones over updating analog infrastructure in remote areas. Thus, they continued analog service where it was cheapest to maintain.

The Legacy and Importance of 1G

Although 1G is long gone, its legacy is deeply embedded in today’s mobile world:

• Pioneering mobile telephony: 1G laid the foundation for mobile voice communication — it proved that cellular calls could be made wirelessly across broad areas.

• Spectrum lessons: The inefficiency of analog spectrum use taught the industry valuable lessons in frequency management and paved the way for more efficient digital systems.

• Technological progression: Transitioning from analog to digital was a major technological leap. 1G’s limitations (no data, poor security) drove innovation for 2G, 3G, and beyond.

• Historical interest: Antique 1G devices (or “dumb phones”) have become collectibles. They remind us how far mobile technology has come.

Why No. 1G Remains in 2025

By 2025, several clear trends make the continued operation of 1G networks impractical:

• Regulatory reallocation: Frequencies once used by 1G have largely been repurposed for digital mobile technologies, broadband wireless, or other communication uses.

• Cost inefficiency: Operating analog infrastructure is expensive relative to the revenue it brings, especially when few users remain. Digital networks offer better cost-per-user economics.

• Modern device incompatibility: Today’s mobile devices are built for digital networks (2G–5G). Analog 1G handsets are increasingly rare, and users often lack incentive to continue using them.

• Security and features: Modern telecommunication demands — data, encryption, interoperability — simply cannot be met by 1G. As mobile usage became data-centric, analog networks lost relevance.

Implications for Technology and Users

For technology professionals, mobile operators, and consumers, the phased-out era of 1G has a few takeaways:

1. Spectrum reuse is critical: The reallocation of 1G frequencies for newer technologies demonstrates how spectrum is a finite and valuable resource. Managing its transition is a complex but necessary task.

2. Legacy systems linger: Even though 1G is gone, similar issues may arise with future transitions (e.g., 2G and 3G shutdowns). Operators and regulators can learn from the 1G phase-out to manage future “sunset” phases more smoothly.

3. Rural connectivity challenges: The slow shutdown in remote areas like rural Russia highlights ongoing connectivity challenges. Many remote regions still struggle to access the latest digital services due to cost or infrastructure constraints.

4. Preserving telecom history: There is value in preserving the history of mobile communication. Museums, collectors, and tech historians benefit from understanding the analog era, as it provides context for modern advancements.

• 1G networks, characterized by analog voice transmission, were foundational in the early days of mobile communications.

• Over time, they were replaced by digital systems (2G, 3G, 4G, 5G) that offered much greater efficiency, security, and functionality.

• While most countries had shut down 1G by the early 2000s, Russia was the last country known to operate a commercial 1G (NMT-450) network, with reports citing its final shutdown around 2017.

• By 2025, no publicly documented 1G network remains in operation.

The retirement of 1G marks the end of a pioneering era in mobile technology — but it also set the stage for the connected, digital world we live in today.