Picture this: You're at your plot outside Polokwane, finally getting signal thanks to your trusty GSM booster. Then… no bars. That could be happening right now.
The shutdown isn't waiting for 2027 — it's already underway.
Vodacom, MTN, Cell C and Telkom have started refarming 900MHz and 1800MHz bands in phases since 2023. If your booster suddenly stopped working in the last 6–12 months, this is why.
Let's break down the complexity — and what you need to do today.
THE SPECTRUM DOESN'T DIE — IT GETS A SECOND LIFE
Myth buster: 900MHz and 1800MHz are NOT being switched off. ICASA and the networks are refarming them for 4G LTE and 5G — but not all at once.
| Frequency | Old Job (2G/3G) | New Job (2025–2028) |
|---|---|---|
| 900MHz | GSM voice & SMS | LTE Band 8 → Rural & indoor coverage |
| 1800MHz | 3G data in towns | LTE Band 3 → Urban speed & capacity |
Key Complexity: Refarming is regional and gradual.
- High-traffic areas (Joburg CBD, Cape Town, Durban) → already mostly LTE
- Rural zones (Limpopo, Eastern Cape) → still mixed, but switching fast
- Full 2G/3G shutdown: June 2025 → December 2027
If your booster failed in 2024 or early 2025, your area has already been refarmed.
WILL YOUR BOOSTER SURVIVE THE SUNSET?
Here's the truth — many boosters are already dead:
| Booster Type | Works Today? | Works After Full Sunset (2027)? | Why? |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2G-only GSM booster | Only in un-refarmed areas | NO | Can't process LTE signals |
| 3G-only UMTS repeater | Spotty | NO | Built for WCDMA, not LTE |
| Tri-band LTE booster | YES | YES | Supports Band 3 & 8 LTE |
💡 Hot Tip: If your booster only says "GSM 900/1800" — it's already failing in refarmed zones.
REAL-LIFE SCENARIOS: BEFORE VS. DURING VS. AFTER
| Scenario | Before (2023) | During Refarming (2025) | After Full Sunset (2028) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Rural home with 900MHz GSM booster | Full 2G signal | Intermittent or dead | No signal |
| Office with 1800MHz UMTS repeater | 3G data working | Data drops, no boost | No signal |
| Vehicle with tri-band LTE booster | Works on all networks | Still works | Faster 4G/5G |
YOUR 3-STEP SURVIVAL PLAN (DO THIS NOW)
Check If Your Area Is Already Refarmed
Open your phone's Field Test Mode:
- Samsung: *#0011#
- iPhone: *3001#12345#
Look for Band 3 (1800MHz) or Band 8 (900MHz) → LTE = refarmed. Still on GSM 900 or UMTS 2100? → Your area is not yet refarmed (but soon will be).
Test Your Booster
Turn it off → note signal strength. Turn it on → if no improvement and you're on LTE Band 3/8 → your booster is obsolete.
Quick Test:
Signal strength should improve by 15-20 dB when booster is on.
Upgrade to a Future-Proof Booster
Look for boosters that support LTE Bands 3 and 8 with ICASA type approval. These work today in mixed zones and post-2027 on full LTE.
Must-Have Features:
- ICASA Type Approval
- LTE Bands 3 & 8 Support
- Multi-Operator Support
THE SILVER LINING: FASTER, STRONGER, FUTURE-READY
Yes, old boosters are becoming e-waste. But refarmed LTE brings:
| Benefit | Real-World Impact |
|---|---|
| More bandwidth | 50–100 Mbps in rural areas |
| Better efficiency | 3–5x more users per tower |
| VoLTE | HD voice calls |
| 5G-ready | Future low-band 5G support |
Check Your Provider's Updates
FINAL VERDICT
Your old GSM/UMTS booster is on borrowed time. If it's not already failing, it will by 2027. But this is progress. The same frequencies that powered your first SMS in the 90s will soon deliver 100 Mbps 4G to rural homes and low-latency 5G to businesses.
Act now: Check your area, test your booster, and upgrade before the full shutdown.
Need help checking your model? We'll tell you if it's ready for the future.
Don't Get Left Without Signal
The 2G/3G sunset is happening now. Upgrade to a future-proof booster that works with today's LTE networks and tomorrow's 5G.
Browse Future-Proof BoostersBolton Technical – Keeping South Africa Connected, One Signal at a Time.
