Blogs
05 June 2025
Reading Time: 7 mins
Blogs
05 June 2025
Reading Time: 7 mins
Adam Hayes
COO
LinkedInAs technology advances, mobile networks too need to evolve. Outdated networks that can no longer support the needs of IoT devices and applications make way for new, faster and more efficient networks. 2G and 3G sunsetting is where the industry is controlling the change to newer 4G, 5G and 6G networks by gradually switching off the 2G and 3G networks.
In this post I’ll cover:
We regularly publish the latest information about coverage changes made by MNOs. Please find the latest bulletin below (reviewed on 05 June 2025).
Find out how we’re supporting our customers to migrate their IoT devices and maintain connection in light of Virgin Media and O2’s planned changes to their 2G and 3G networks in 2025,
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are shutting down 2G and 3G networks (sunsetting) for a number of reasons:
2G and 3G networks are now outdated technologies and networks need modernisation. 4G, 5G and soon 6G are the next evolution of cellular networks and offer optimised options including faster speeds, greater capacity and operational efficiencies. 2G is over thirty years old now, while 3G is not far behind! These legacy networks were designed for basic data and voice usage. Technology today has soon outpaced their network capabilities and they are unable to support high-speed data applications like video streaming and emerging technologies such as the Internet of Things (IoT).
Did you know there is only so much wireless spectrum to go around? That means that for newer networks to come into play, old ones must go. MNOS will reallocate 2G and 3G spectrums for the likes of 4G and 5G. This will improve the overall quality and capacity of their networks.
Maintaining multiple generations of networks is expensive for MNOs. A legacy network requires ongoing maintenance and support, which diverts funds and resources away from newer networks. It is possible for MNOs to reduce operating costs by retiring older networks.
2G and 3G service demand is decreasing as more consumers and businesses adopt devices with faster data connections. In today’s fast-paced world, customers expect quick, reliable connections with minimum latency. It’s up to MNOs to deliver on these expectations and meet customer demand.
2G and 3G sunsetting is occurring around the globe, and impacting everyone. More regions are moving toward 4G and 5G technologies, limiting the ability of older devices and services to operate across borders smoothly.
2G and 3G sunsetting is impacting IoT in a profound way, especially for businesses that have active IoT estates which rely on these networks for sole connectivity.
Unless businesses can update their devices and move across to newer networks, their devices will be rendered obsolete when shutdowns occur. IoT devices by their very nature rely on connectivity for the transmission of data and insights. Without access to reliable coverage, the business case is destroyed.
For businesses looking to deploy an IoT initiative, it is wise to take the learnings that 2G and 3G shutdowns present and futureproof your IoT device design, so that you are proactively prepared for any other future network landscape changes.
You’ll have no doubt heard the saying “Don’t put all your eggs in one basket”. The same applies to IoT connectivity. The best way to future-proof your IoT business case is to design your device to connect to multiple connectivity types. This is called multiple radio access type connectivity – or multi-RAT for short.
How does this work in practice? Let’s give an example of one of our smart vending customers, Costa Express. The self-service vending machine offers Costa’s most popular hot and cold drinks for customers to buy on-the-go. Currently, Costa Express has more than 13,500 machines in 17 markets across the world.
Each machine has complete flexibility when it comes to connectivity with multiple fallback options enabled by Eseye’s Hera 604 IoT edge router. This means the vending machine can switch between 3G, 4G LTE and Wi-Fi connections depending on availability and network strength. Regardless of which connectivity type Costa Express uses, its smart vending machines will remain up and running. Because Costa Express has connectivity redundancy, its operations will remain unaffected when 3G is phased out in the markets it operates in.
The good news is that 4G LTE is not going anywhere soon. 4G LTE is widely available and perfectly adequate for businesses and consumers, offering high bandwidth and high-speed connectivity with reduced latency. The likelihood is that as 5G gains momentum and scales, 4G LTE will be used less and less, and will eventually be phased out in 10 to 12 years’ time (2033-35).
We keep this list updated with information via our MNO partners and research. The mobile network operator landscape (MNO) is constantly changing and the situation varies from country to country, be mindful that dates are subject to change.
Below are the latest dates:
Operator | Country | 2G Shutdown | 3G Shutdown |
---|---|---|---|
232 | AFGHANISTAN | 30/04/2024 | |
Vodafone – Albania | ALBANIA | 31/12/2025 | 30/04/2024 |
Antigua Public Utilities Authority (APUA) | ANTIGUA AND BARBUDA | 01/04/2018 | |
AMX Argentina S.A. (Claro) | ARGENTINA | 30/04/2024 | 31/12/2025 |
SingTel Optus Pty Limited | AUSTRALIA | 01/08/2017 | 01/09/2024 |
Telstra Corporation Limited | AUSTRALIA | 01/12/2016 | 31/08/2024 |
Vodafone Hutchison Australia Pty Limited | AUSTRALIA | 01/06/2018 | 30/01/2024 |
A1 Telekom Austria AG | AUSTRIA | 31/12/2025 | |
T-Mobile Austria GmbH | AUSTRIA | 31/12/2024 | |
Bahrain Telecommunications Company (B.S.C.) | BAHRAIN, KINGDOM OF | 31/12/2020 | |
Banglalink Digital Communications Ltd. | BANGLADESH | 09/05/2024 | |
Grameenphone Ltd | BANGLADESH | 31/12/2025 | 31/12/2026 |
ORANGE Belgium nv/SA | BELGIUM | 01/01/2030 | 01/01/2025 |
Telenet Group BVBA/SPRL | BELGIUM | 30/09/2024 | |
Telecommunications (Bermuda & West Indies) Ltd. (Digicel) | BERMUDA | 31/12/2023 | |
Claro S.A | BRAZIL | 31/12/2025 | |
A1 Bulgaria EAD | BULGARIA | 31/12/2025 | |
Bell Mobility Inc. | CANADA | 31/12/2020 | |
Rogers Communications Canada Inc. | CANADA | 31/12/2021 | 31/07/2025 |
SaskTel | CANADA | 01/07/2017 | |
Videotron Ltd | CANADA | 31/07/2025 | |
Digicel Cayman Ltd. | CAYMAN ISLANDS | 01/07/2020 | |
Claro Chile SA | CHILE | 30/04/2024 | 31/12/2025 |
China Mobile Limited | CHINA, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF | 01/12/2020 | |
China Unicom | CHINA, PEOPLE’S REPUBLIC OF | 31/12/2022 | |
Colombia Movil S.A. | COLOMBIA | 01/11/2022 | |
Colombia Telecomunicaciones S.A. ESP (Movistar) | COLOMBIA | 01/07/2024 | |
Comunicacion Celular S.A (Comcel S.A) (Claro) | COLOMBIA | 01/04/2024 | 31/12/2025 |
Claro CR Telecomunicaciones, S.A. | COSTA RICA | 30/04/2024 | 31/12/2025 |
Hrvatski Telekom d.d. (T-Mobile) | CROATIA | 20/02/2025 | |
O2 Czech Republic a.s. | CZECH REPUBLIC | 30/11/2021 | |
T-Mobile Czech Republic a.s. | CZECH REPUBLIC | 31/12/2025 | 30/11/2021 |
Vodafone Czech Republic a.s. | CZECH REPUBLIC | 31/12/2025 | 31/03/2021 |
HI3G Denmark ApS | DENMARK | 31/12/2025 | |
TDC A/S | DENMARK | 31/12/2022 | |
Telenor A/S | DENMARK | 31/12/2025 | 18/04/2023 |
Telia Nattjanster Norden AB | DENMARK | 31/12/2025 | 19/04/2023 |
Compañia Dominicana de Teléfonos, S.A. (Claro) | DOMINICAN REPUBLIC | 30/04/2024 | 31/12/2025 |
Conecel S.A. (Consorcio Ecuatoriano de Telecomunicaciones S.A.) (Claro) | ECUADOR | 30/04/2024 | 31/12/2025 |
CTE Telecom Personal, S.A. de C.V. (Claro) | EL SALVADOR | 31/12/2024 | 31/12/2026 |
Elisa Eesti AS | ESTONIA | 30/11/2024 | |
Tele2 Eesti Aktsiaselts | ESTONIA | 31/12/2025 | |
Telia Eesti AS | ESTONIA | 31/12/2025 | 31/12/2023 |
Ålands Telekommunikation Ab | FINLAND | 31/12/2029 | |
DNA Plc | FINLAND | 31/12/2029 | 31/12/2023 |
Elisa Corporation | FINLAND | 31/12/2023 | |
Telia Finland Oyj | FINLAND | 31/12/2029 | 31/12/2023 |
Bouygues Télécom | FRANCE | 31/12/2026 | 31/12/2029 |
Orange | FRANCE | 30/09/2026 | 31/12/2028 |
Société Française du Radiotéléphone S.A. | FRANCE | 31/12/2026 | 31/12/2028 |
Telefónica Germany GmbH & Co. OHG | GERMANY | 30/11/2021 | |
Telekom Deutschland GmbH | GERMANY | 01/07/2028 | 30/06/2021 |
Vodafone GmbH | GERMANY | 31/12/2025 | 01/07/2021 |
Cosmote Mobile Telecommunications S.A. | GREECE | 31/12/2021 | |
Vodafone-Panafon Hellenic Telecommunications Company S.A. | GREECE | 31/12/2025 | 31/07/2023 |
Wind/Nova | GREECE | 13/03/2023 | |
DOCOMO PACIFIC, INC. (Guam) | GUAM | 31/10/2018 | |
Teleguam Holdings, LLC | GUAM | 01/10/2018 | |
Telecomunicaciones de Guatemala, S.A. (TELGUA) | GUATEMALA | 31/12/2026 | |
Hutchison Telecommunications Hong Kong Holdings Limited | HONG KONG, SAR CHINA | 01/12/2020 | |
SmarTone Mobile Communications Limited | HONG KONG, SAR CHINA | 01/10/2022 | |
Magyar Telekom Nyrt. | HUNGARY | 30/06/2022 | |
Vodafone Hungary Mobile Telecommunications Company Limited | HUNGARY | 31/12/2025 | 30/11/2022 |
Yettel | HUNGARY | 31/10/2023 | |
IMC Ísland ehf. | ICELAND | 31/12/2025 | |
Nova ehf. | ICELAND | 31/12/2025 | |
Síminn h.f. | ICELAND | 31/12/2025 | 31/12/2025 |
Sýn hf. | ICELAND | 31/12/2025 | 31/12/2025 |
Bharat Sanchar Nigam Limited | INDIA | 31/12/2024 | |
Bharti Airtel Limited | INDIA | 30/04/2024 | 30/09/2020 |
Vodafone Idea Limited | INDIA | 01/01/2025 | |
PT Indosat Tbk | INDONESIA | 31/12/2022 | |
PT. XL Axiata Tbk | INDONESIA | 30/04/2024 | 31/03/2022 |
Three Ireland (Hutchison) Limited | IRELAND | 01/01/2025 | |
Vodafone Ireland Limited | IRELAND | 31/12/2025 | 31/12/2023 |
Cellcom Israel Ltd. | ISRAEL | 31/12/2025 | 31/12/2025 |
Golan Telecom Ltd | ISRAEL | 31/12/2025 | |
Hot Mobile Ltd. | ISRAEL | 31/12/2025 | |
Partner Communications Company Ltd. | ISRAEL | 31/12/2025 | 31/12/2025 |
Pelephone Communication Ltd. | ISRAEL | 31/12/2025 | |
Telecom Italia SpA | ITALY | 31/12/2029 | 15/10/2022 |
Vodafone Italia S.p.A | ITALY | 31/12/2025 | 01/03/2021 |
Wind Tre S.p.A. | ITALY | 31/12/2025 | |
Wind Tre S.p.A. (ITAWI) | ITALY | 31/12/2025 | |
KDDI Corporation | JAPAN | 22/07/2012 | 31/03/2022 |
NTT DOCOMO, Inc. | JAPAN | 30/06/2011 | 31/03/2026 |
SoftBank Corp. | JAPAN | 31/03/2011 | 30/04/2024 |
KT Corporation | KOREA, REPUBLIC OF | 31/12/2012 | |
LG Uplus, Corp. | KOREA, REPUBLIC OF | 31/12/2012 | 31/12/2017 |
SK Telecom Co., Ltd. | KOREA, REPUBLIC OF | 20/07/2020 | |
STC | KUWAIT | 30/06/2023 | |
Swisscom (Switzerland) Ltd (Liechtenstein) | LIECHTENSTEIN | 01/01/2021 | 31/01/2024 |
Telecom Liechtenstein AG | LIECHTENSTEIN | 31/01/2021 | |
Telia Lietuva AB | LITHUANIA | 31/12/2025 | 01/03/2022 |
UAB Bitė Lietuva | LITHUANIA | 31/12/2028 | 31/12/2025 |
Orange Communications Luxembourg S.A. | LUXEMBOURG | 01/01/2025 | 01/01/2030 |
POST Luxembourg | LUXEMBOURG | 31/07/2022 | |
Companhia de Telecomunicações de Macau, S.A.R.L. | MACAO, SAR CHINA | 01/06/2015 | |
Hutchison Telephone (Macau) Company Limited | MACAO, SAR CHINA | 01/06/2015 | |
SmarTone Mobile Communications (Macau) Limited | MACAO, SAR CHINA | 26/11/2019 | |
Celcom Axiata Berhad | MALAYSIA | 30/04/2024 | |
Digi Telecommunications Sdn Bhd | MALAYSIA | 31/12/2024 | 31/12/2021 |
Maxis Broadband Sdn. Bhd. | MALAYSIA | 26/12/2021 | |
U Mobile Sdn. Bhd. | MALAYSIA | 31/12/2021 | |
Vodafone Malta Limited | MALTA | 31/12/2025 | 30/04/2024 |
AT&T Comercializacion Movil, S. de R.L. de C.V. | MEXICO | 01/09/2019 | |
Movistar | MEXICO | 01/12/2021 | |
Telcel | MEXICO | 31/12/2025 | 31/12/2026 |
Telenor Myanmar Limited | MYANMAR | 31/12/2024 | 31/12/2025 |
Nepal Doorsanchar Company Ltd | NEPAL | 31/12/2021 | |
KPN B.V. | NETHERLANDS | 01/12/2027 | 31/03/2022 |
T-Mobile Netherlands B.V. | NETHERLANDS | 01/06/2023 | |
Vodafone Libertel B.V. | NETHERLANDS | 31/12/2025 | 04/02/2020 |
Telcell N.V. | NETHERLANDS ANTILLES | 01/01/2019 | |
Office des Postes et Telecommunications | NEW CALEDONIA | 01/01/2025 | 01/01/2030 |
Spark New Zealand | NEW ZEALAND | 31/03/2007 | 31/12/2025 |
Two Degrees Networks Limited | NEW ZEALAND | 01/03/2018 | 31/12/2025 |
Vodafone New Zealand Ltd | NEW ZEALAND | 01/12/2025 | 31/12/2025 |
Empresa Nicaraguense de Telecomunicaciones S.A. – ENITEL | NICARAGUA | 31/12/2024 | 31/12/2026 |
Telekom.mk | NORTH MACEDONIA | 31/03/2024 | |
Telenor Norge AS | NORWAY | 31/12/2027 | 31/12/2021 |
Telia Norge AS | NORWAY | 31/12/2025 | 31/12/2020 |
Telenor Pakistan (Private) Limited | PAKISTAN | 31/12/2025 | 31/12/2025 |
Claro Panamá, S.A. | PANAMA, REPUBLIC OF | 31/12/2024 | 31/12/2026 |
Digicel (Panama) S.A. | PANAMA, REPUBLIC OF | 31/12/2024 | |
AMX Paraguay S.A. | PARAGUAY | 31/12/2026 | |
América Móvil Perú, S.A.C. | PERU | 31/12/2024 | 31/12/2026 |
Orange Polska S.A. | POLAND | 31/12/2030 | 31/12/2025 |
T-Mobile Polska S.A. | POLAND | 01/04/2023 | |
MEO – Serviços de Comunicações e Multimédia SA | PORTUGAL | 31/01/2024 | |
Vodafone Portugal – Comunicações Pessoais, S.A. | PORTUGAL | 31/12/2025 | 30/07/2024 |
AT&T Mobility Puerto Rico Inc. | PUERTO RICO | 01/01/2017 | 22/02/2022 |
Puerto Rico Telephone Company, Inc. | PUERTO RICO | 31/12/2023 | |
S.C. Orange România S.A. | ROMANIA | 01/01/2025 | 01/06/2024 |
S.C. Vodafone Romania S.A. | ROMANIA | 31/12/2025 | 31/12/2023 |
Telekom Romania Mobile Communications S.A. | ROMANIA | 01/07/2022 | |
Saudi Telecom Company (STC) | SAUDI ARABIA | 31/12/2022 | |
M1 Limited | SINGAPORE | 01/04/2017 | |
SingTel Mobile Singapore Pte. Ltd. | SINGAPORE | 01/04/2017 | |
StarHub Mobile Pte Ltd | SINGAPORE | 01/04/2017 | |
TPG Telecom Pte. Ltd. | SINGAPORE | 01/04/2017 | |
O2 Slovakia, s.r.o. | SLOVAKIA | 31/01/2024 | |
Orange Slovensko, a.s. | SLOVAKIA | 31/12/2030 | 31/12/2025 |
Slovak Telekom, a.s. | SLOVAKIA | 23/11/2023 | |
A1 Slovenija, d.d. | SLOVENIA | 31/12/2030 | 30/06/2023 |
Cell C (Pty) Ltd | SOUTH AFRICA | 01/06/2024 | 31/12/2027 |
Mobile Telephone Networks (Pty) Ltd. | SOUTH AFRICA | 31/12/2027 | 31/12/2025 |
Telkom SA Ltd | SOUTH AFRICA | 01/06/2024 | 31/12/2027 |
Vodacom (Pty) Ltd. | SOUTH AFRICA | 31/12/2027 | 31/12/2027 |
Orange Espagne, S.A., sociedad unipersonal | SPAIN | 01/01/2030 | 31/12/2025 |
Telefónica Móviles España S.A. | SPAIN | 31/12/2025 | |
Vodafone España, S.A.U. | SPAIN | 31/12/2025 | 30/04/2025 |
Dialog Axiata Plc | SRI LANKA | 31/12/2022 | |
Tele2 AB | SWEDEN | 31/12/2025 | 31/12/2025 |
Telenor Sverige AB | SWEDEN | 31/12/2025 | 31/12/2025 |
Telia Company AB | SWEDEN | 31/12/2027 | 31/12/2025 |
Salt/Orange Switzerland | SWITZERLAND | 31/12/2020 | 31/12/2025 |
Sunrise Communications AG | SWITZERLAND | 31/12/2022 | 01/07/2025 |
Swisscom (Switzerland) Ltd | SWITZERLAND | 31/12/2020 | 31/12/2025 |
Asia Pacific Telecom Co., Ltd. (APT) | TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA | 01/08/2017 | |
Chunghwa Telecom | TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA | 01/06/2017 | |
Far EasTone Telecommunications Co Ltd | TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA | 01/06/2017 | |
Taiwan Mobile Co.Ltd | TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA | 01/06/2017 | |
Taiwan Star Telecom Corporation Limited | TAIWAN, PROVINCE OF CHINA | 31/12/2018 | |
CAT Telecom Public Company | THAILAND | 01/10/2019 | |
dtac TriNet Co., Ltd. | THAILAND | 30/04/2024 | 31/12/2025 |
Emirates Integrated Telecommunications Company PJSC | UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | 31/12/2023 | |
Emirates Telecom Corp-ETISALAT | UNITED ARAB EMIRATES | 31/12/2023 | |
EE Limited | UNITED KINGDOM | 01/01/2033 | 31/01/2024 |
Hutchison 3G UK Limited | UNITED KINGDOM | 31/12/2024 | |
Telefónica UK Limited | UNITED KINGDOM | 01/10/2025 | 01/10/2025 |
Vodafone Ltd | UNITED KINGDOM | 01/01/2030 | 31/01/2024 |
AT&T Mobility | UNITED STATES | 01/01/2017 | 22/02/2022 |
NE Colorado Cellular, Inc | UNITED STATES | 09/05/2018 | |
T-Mobile USA, Inc | UNITED STATES | 01/02/2025 | 01/07/2022 |
Union Telephone Company | UNITED STATES | 31/12/2019 | |
AM Wireless Uruguay S.A. | URUGUAY | 30/04/2024 | 31/12/2025 |
GTEL Mobile Joint Stock Company (GTEL Mobile) | VIETNAM | 01/03/2024 | |
MOBIFONE CORPORATION | VIETNAM | 01/03/2024 | |
Vietnam Posts and Telecommunications Group (VNPT) | VIETNAM | 01/03/2024 | |
Vietnamobile Telecommunications Joint Stock Company | VIETNAM | 01/03/2024 | |
Viettel Group | VIETNAM | 01/03/2024 | 30/06/2023 |
Get your definitive IoT guide to handling 2G and 3G network shutdowns. Explore the alternative connectivity options available and find helpful advice that will help you to plan a smooth migration.
Read whitepaperAdam Hayes
COO
LinkedInWorking at the forefront of developments in the telecommunications industry, Adam has both an in-depth knowledge and high-level experience in a range of operational, commercial and financial roles. Adam has a passion for early-stage businesses and has worked alongside the Eseye founders since 2011. Previous roles within telecommunications companies include Mercury, Cable and Wireless, Tele 2 and BlueStar Mobile.
Adam’s current responsibilities include understanding and agreeing the commercial and regulatory arrangements with our carrier partners along with the coordination, synchronization and integration of operational and contractual activities. Adam is a Chartered Accountant and holds a degree in Engineering.
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