3G deactivation in Switzerland: Secure your new payment terminal before the outage
Sunrise did it already in June, and now Swisscom will follow suit by the end of 2025: The 3G network is being switched off across Switzerland. This may also affect your payment reception, especially if you are 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 protect your business against outages.
Sheila
Matti
Nearly 20 years ago, the 3G network ushered in the era of mobile internet. Today, however, what was once a pioneering mobile generation is considered outdated and has been replaced by the more powerful 4G and 5G networks. According to Swisscom, only 1.1 per cent of mobile data traffic runs over 3G today, but the outdated network still occupies a good 9 per cent of the antenna capacity.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 date, but Sunrise took this step as early as June 2025 and Swisscom will follow by the end of 2025. So, from 31.12.2025, many old, still 3G-based EC devices will no longer function. This affects not only smartphones and tablets but also Lector de tarjetas.
Your business could therefore also be affected by this step. 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 arrange for a replacement device in good time, otherwise you risk a payment default and corresponding loss of revenue. But don’t worry – Payrexx will help you with this!
How can you tell if the 3G switch-off affects you?
First things first: Of course, only those devices that are connected to the mobile network are affected – namely those with an integrated SIM card. If your Lector de tarjetas, on the other hand, runs purely over the WLAN network or another connection, it does not need to be replaced. However, a change may also be advisable here, as older devices are usually no longer updated by the manufacturer and may have corresponding security vulnerabilities.
You can check whether your current Lector de tarjetas (with 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 do you need to do if your device is affected?
If your current Lector de tarjetas uses the 3G network, it's time to act fast! If you don't replace the device by the end of 2025, you risk a payment default by 2026. Your device will simply no longer function and will not be able to process payments. So make sure you arrange for a new device in good time.
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 and you being stuck with unnecessary costs. Depending on the provider, delivery can also take a long time. Therefore, order as early as possible, so the new device arrives in good time.
All these are inconveniences you can avoid with Payrexx. If you order your POS terminal from Switzerland's leading payment provider for SMEs, it will arrive fully operational within a few working days. You just have to switch it on and you can start receiving payments immediately, securely and reliably over the powerful 4G network.
Currently, you also benefit from the exclusive introductory price: You only pay 9 instead of 25 EUR per month for your POS terminal!
What do you need to do if your device is affected?
As Switzerland's leading payment provider for SMEs, Payrexx is committed to simplifying payments for businesses of all sizes – whether online or on-site. The Payrexx Nexgo POS terminals are not only powerful and reliable in payment transactions, they are 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 get more than just a Lector de tarjetas: The all-in-one solution includes a range of useful e-commerce tools that optimise your online presence. For example, you can generate donation forms, create simple online shops or send invoices via payment link – all fixed components of your Payrexx account, with no hidden additional costs.
Comerciante on site benefit from the Payrexx Power Pack: In addition to POS terminals, payments can also be received via QR code or with Tap to Pay. The latter app turns your smartphone into a Lector de tarjetas and gives you maximum flexibility. So you can receive payments no matter where, no matter when, no matter how, and no matter under what conditions: the perfect solution for every situation.
Das Payrexx Power Paket: Tap to Pay, Payrexx POS-Terminals und Payrexx QR Pay.
