A MAJOR mobile phone network has announced it is "ramping up" its shutdown of a long-running service.

The move means thousands of customers in the UK will lose access to the internet in just weeks.

The company said the switch-off is essential to ensure improved updates run smoothly.

Mobile usage has skyrocketed in recent years, with data traffic more than doubling over the past five years – making upgrades like this increasingly essential.

The O2 Virgin Media switch off means customers in certain areas of the UK who use 3G will be unable to connect to internet-connected apps such as WhatsApp, Facebook and Instagram while out and about.

The service was a game-changer for smartphones when it was introduced in the UK in 2023.

But networks are increasingly shutting down 3G to allow

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