3G shutdown in Switzerland: Secure your new payment terminal before the outage
Sunrise did it back in June, and by the end of 2025, Swisscom will follow: The 3G network will be shut down nationwide in Switzerland. This can also affect your payment acceptance, especially if you are still using an old terminal based on 3G. In the following article, you will learn the reasons for the shutdown, its consequences, and the steps you need to take to safeguard your business against disruptions.
Sheila
Matti
Nearly 20 years ago, the 3G network ushered in the era of mobile internet. Today, however, what was once a groundbreaking mobile generation is considered outdated and has been replaced by the more powerful 4G and 5G networks. According to Swisscom, only 1.1 percent of mobile data traffic runs over 3G today, while the outdated network still occupies around 9 percent of the antenna capacity. And this is limited.
To create capacity, 3G will be switched off nationwide by the end of the year. Salt has not yet announced a time, but Sunrise already made the move in June 2025, and Swisscom will follow by the end of 2025. As of 31.12.2025, many old EC devices still based on 3G will no longer function. This affects not only smartphones and tablets but also card readers.
This step could also affect your company. Especially if your POS terminal has been in use for a while, you should check whether it will still be operational in the future. If not, you need to promptly secure a replacement device, or you risk a payment failure and accordingly a loss of revenue. But don't worry – Payrexx will help you with that!
How do you know if the 3G shutdown affects you?
First and foremost: Only those devices that are connected to the mobile network are affected – in other words, those with an integrated SIM card. If your card reader, on the other hand, runs solely over the WLAN network or another connection, it does not need to be replaced. However, a change may also be worthwhile here, as older devices are usually no longer updated by the manufacturer and may have corresponding security vulnerabilities.
You can check if your current card reader (with a SIM card) is based on the 3G network using the following points:
Überprüfe die Netzanzeige auf Deinem Gerät: Wie auch beim Handy wird diese meist oben rechts in der Ecke des Bildschirms angezeigt. Steht hier ständig 4G, LTE oder 5G ist Dein Terminal nicht betroffen.
Überprüfe die Netzwerkeinstellungen Deines Geräts: Standardmässig finden sich diese in den Einstellungen unter Menüpunkten wie “Verbindungen” oder “Mobile Netzwerke”. Hier sollte ersichtlich sein, ob Dein Gerät 3G, 4G oder 5G nutzt.
Schau auf der Rückseite Deines Geräts nach: Bei den allermeisten Geräten findest Du hier einen Sticker, auf dem – neben anderen Informationen, wie etwa der Seriennummer und dem Strichcode – auch das Netz angegeben ist. Achtung, genau hinschauen! Oft ist der Text nämlich sehr klein geschrieben.
Frage Deinen Hersteller oder schau auf dessen Webseite nach. Die meisten Terminal-Anbieter haben klar kommuniziert, welche ihrer Geräte künftig nicht mehr funktionieren. Und falls Du diese Information nicht auf Anhieb findest, bietet sich eine Supportanfrage oder ein Telefonanruf an.
Dank der integrierten SIM-Karte laufen die POS-Geräte überall, reibungslos, via 4G-Netzwerk.
What must you do if your device is affected?
If your current card reader uses the 3G network, it means: Act quickly! If you do not replace the device by the end of 2025, you risk a payment failure by 2026. Your device will then simply cease to function and cannot process payments. So be sure to promptly get a new device.
If your current terminal is a rental device, you should return it to the provider as soon as possible. Otherwise, you risk the provider eventually refusing to take it back, leaving you with unnecessary costs. Depending on the provider, delivery can also be delayed. Therefore, you should order as early as possible so that the new device arrives on time.
All these are inconveniences you can avoid with Payrexx. When you order your POS terminal from the leading Swiss payment provider for SMEs, it arrives at your place completely operational within a few business days. You just have to turn it on and can immediately start receiving payments, securely and reliably through the powerful 4G network.
You currently also benefit from the exclusive introductory price: Monthly, you only pay 9 instead of 25 CHF for your POS terminal!
What must you do if your device is affected?
As the leading Swiss payment provider for SMEs, Payrexx is committed to simplifying payment transactions for companies of all sizes – whether online or on-site. The Payrexx Nexgo POS terminals are therefore not only powerful and reliable in payment transactions but also easy to use and order.
With Payrexx, you can order a new device in just 3 steps:
Erstelle ein Payrexx-Konto: Registriere Dich oder Dein Unternehmen bei Payrexx, schliesse den Verifikationsprozess ab und erwirb das Standard-Abonnement.
Bestelle Dein POS-Terminal: Wähle in Deinem Payrexx-Konto Dein neues Terminal aus und gib alle für die Bestellung nötigen Angaben an.
Erhalte Dein Gerät: Innert maximal 10 Arbeitstagen trifft Dein Gerät komplett betriebsbereit bei Dir ein. Und schon kannst Du Zahlungen empfangen.
With Payrexx, you also get more than just a card reader: The all-in-one solution includes a range of useful e-commerce tools that optimize your online presence. For instance, you can generate donation forms, create simple webshops, or send invoices via payment link – all integral parts of your Payrexx account, with no hidden additional costs.
Local merchants benefit from the Payrexx Power Package: In addition to POS terminals, payments can also be accepted via QR code or with Tap to Pay. The latter app transforms your smartphone into a card reader, thus allowing you maximum flexibility. You receive payments no matter where, no matter when, no matter how, and no matter under what conditions: the perfect solution for any situation.
Das Payrexx Power Paket: Tap to Pay, Payrexx POS-Terminals und Payrexx QR Pay.
