Latest 2G and 3G Network Shutdown/Sunset Updates

As 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 Outdated networks that can no longer support the needs of IoT devices and applications make way for new, faster and more efficient networks. 2G and 3G sunsetting is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,


Why are 2G and 3G networks shutting down?

Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) are shutting down 2G and 3G networks (sunsetting) for a number of reasons:

Obsolete Technology

2G and 3G networks are now outdated technologies and networks need modernisation. 4G, 5G and soon 6G are the next evolution of cellular networks and offer optimised options including faster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).

Spectrum Efficiency

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.

Cost Savings

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.

Customer Demand

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.

Global Trend

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/3G shutdowns are accelerating – is your IoT deployment ready?
Make the switch to future-proof connectivity.

In this article

What the 2G and 3G network shutdown means for IoT

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.

How to future-proof your IoT connections

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.

When will 4G be phased out?

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).

When will 2G and 3G be phased out?

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:

2G/3G Network Status Updates Table

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

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Adam Hayes

Working 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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