2G and 3G Sunsets: When They’ll Happen and How to Prepare

26.04.2022
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Carriers around the world are shutting down their 2G and 3G networks. Here’s how to make sure your business is ready.
Last updated: March 20, 2024

Billions of IoT devices rely on 2G and 3G cellular networks. These solutions offer IoT manufacturers an affordable way to keep devices connected anywhere in the world—indoors, outdoors, or on the go. But the technology is decades old, there are better solutions available, and there’s only so much bandwidth to go around.

And that’s why over the next few years, these networks are shutting down for good.

  1. Why are carriers shutting down their 2G and 3G networks?
  2. How should IoT businesses prepare for the sunsets?
  3. When is the sunset happening?

Some carriers have already sunsetted their 2G and 3G networks, pulling the plug to make room for newer cellular networks like 4G and 5G. Most other operators have at least made plans to shut them down. Thankfully, they’ve made these plans public—so you won't be caught unaware.

In this article, we’ll share when 2G and 3G networks are shutting down around the world, as well as what your business can do to prepare. But first, let’s look at why this is even happening.

1. Why are carriers shutting down their 2G and 3G networks?

Haven’t cellular carriers heard the phrase, “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it”? 2G and 3G networks work just fine for most IoT applications. So why wouldn’t cellular providers just keep them around?

It all comes down to supply and demand.

2G and 3G technologies have already gone through extensive updates to increase their lifespans and get every last bit of use from their infrastructure. But carriers each have a limited range of radio frequencies they can dedicate their networks to. And the demand for 4G, 5G, LTE-M, and NB-IoT will only increase in the years to come.

Most 2G networks based on GSM use 850–1800 MHz or 900–1900 MHz bands. And 3G networks use bands between 850–1900 MHz or 900–2100 MHz. More advanced cellular technologies could use these same bands to provide higher data throughput and more valuable functionality. And all around the world, the opportunity these newer networks present is outgrowing the demand for continuing to support 2G and 3G infrastructure.

So with that in mind, it’s crucial that IoT manufacturers know when the sunset is happening and what they need to do before then.

2. How should IoT businesses prepare for the sunsets?

The last thing you want is to be using 2G or 3G networks when a carrier you rely on shuts their network down. Even if you still have years according to an operator’s current plan, you want to be proactive, not reactive. Here’s how to make sure you’re ready.

Evaluate your current IoT devices

Some of your devices may depend entirely on 2G or 3G connectivity. Others may simply use it as a fallback when other options like 4G or LTE-M aren’t available. You need to take inventory of every device that relies on this technology, assess which deployments and customers will need to make a transition, and identify the specific carriers your devices use.

You may simply be able to change your cellular service to a newer technology your devices are already compatible with. Or disable the functionality that searches for 2G and 3G networks. In many cases though, your devices may need significant upgrades to continue operating.

Know the dates that affect your deployments

Some carriers will continue supporting their 2G and 3G service for years. Some will make an immediate transition and sunset their entire service on a specific date, and others will gradually throttle down their 2G/3G service as they convert the available RF spectrum to other services. You don’t have to know what every carrier is doing. But you need to learn everything you can about how the carriers your business depends on are handling the transition.

Create a migration plan

Once you know the devices that need to switch and the dates they need to switch by, you’ll need to create a timeline for migrating to another solution. This may require coordinating significant updates and retrofitting with your customers. Or it could be a matter of planning out a transition to another service with your carriers. Your migration plan will depend on your business’ unique circumstances.

3. When is the sunset happening?

There’s actually no universal date for when carriers will shut down their 2G and 3G networks. Each Mobile Network Operator (MNO) has to decide when it makes the most sense for their business, based on local demand, their goals, and what they’re capable of. Many carriers have already phased out 2G service, and several plan to end 3G by the end of 2022.

Since you could have IoT deployments anywhere in the world, here’s a complete list of planned 2G and 3G sunsets by country and provider.

Africa

Africa is still behind other regions when it comes to reframing the spectrum to accommodate LTE and there have been no concrete dates for 2G and 3G shutdowns. However, in certain countries and networks, it has been reported that no 2G or 3G service is currently available.

Country Network Operator 2G Status/ Sunset Date  3G Status/ Sunset Date
Equatorial Guinea Getesa   No service
Gabon Azur   No service
Gambia Comium   No service
Mali Sotelma (Malitel)   No service
Mayotte / Reunion Orange 31.12.2024  
Nigeria MTN 11.12.2025  
South Africa Cell C 30.06.2024 25.03.2025
MTN 30.02.2024 25.03.2025
Telkom 30.06.2024 25.03.2025
Vodacom 30.06.2024 25.03.2025

Americas

North America, especially the USA is quickly phasing out 2G networks on a massive scale. In South America, Claro has already announced future shutdown dates of 2G and 3G in many countries.

Country Network Operator 2G Status/ Sunset Date 3G Status/ Sunset Date
Anguilla Digicel 31.03.2024 31.03.2029
Antigua and Barbuda

Digicel 31.03.2024 31.03.2027
FLOW 08.04.2024  
Argentina Personal   31.12.2023
Aruba Digicel 31.06.2024 31.03.2028
Bahamas BTC 22.04.2024  
Barbados FLOW 22.04.2024  
Belize Smart No service  
Bermuda ONE 01.01.2017 01.01.2024
Digicel 31.01.2024 31.03.2027
Bonaire / Sint Eustatius / Saba / Curacao / Saint Martin (French part) TelCell SX 01.01.2019  
British Virgin Islands FLOW 08.04.2024  
Canada Bragg No service  
TELUS 31.05.2017  
Videotron No service  
Wind No service  
Cayman Islands Digicel No service 31.03.2027
Cable and Wireless    
Chile WOM S.A. No service  
Telefonica 31.12.2023  
Entel 30.11.2024  
Colombia Claro 28.02.2023  
Tigo 01.11.2022  
Costa Rica Claro 31.12.2023  
ICE 01.07.2024  
Dominica FLOW 22.04.2024  
Ecuador CNT 01.10.2014  
French Guiana / St Barthelemy / St. Martin / French Antilles / Guadeloupe / Martinique Orange Caraibe 31.12.2025 31.12.2028
Grenada

Digicel 31.03.2024  
FLOW 23.10.2023  
Guyana Digicel 31.03.2027 31.03.2030
Jamaica FLOW 30.09.2022  
Digicel 31.06.2024 31.03.2028
Mexico AT&T 01.09.2019  
Movistar 30.04.2021  
Montserrat FLOW 22.04.2024  
Panama Claro 31.12.2024 31.12.2026
Digicel 08.03.2020  
Puerto Rico Claro 31.03.2022 31.12.2023
St. Kitts and Nevis FLOW 22.04.2024  
St. Lucia FLOW 29.04.2024  
St. Pierre and Miquelon SPM   No service 
St. Vincent and the Grenadines FLOW 30.10.2023  
Suriname Digicel 31.02.2025 31.03.2029
Trinidad and Tobago Digicel 31.03.2024  
Turks and Caicos Islands (UK) FLOW 22.04.2024  
Uruguay Movistar 31.12.2023  
United States AT&T 01.01.2017 22.02.2022
Verizon No service 31.12.2022
Limitless Mobile No service  
T-Mobile 02.04.2024 01.07.2022
Union 31.12.2019 22.09.2023
Viaero 09.05.2018 Beginning Dec 2023
Venezuela Corporacion Digitel C.A. 31.12.2025  
Movistar Venezuela 31.12.2025  
Telecomunicaciones Movilnet C.A. 31.12.2025  

Asia

East Asia is leading the way regarding switching off 2G networks with some other Asian countries following. In certain countries in the region, such as Japan, Macau, Singapore and South Korea, there is no 2G available at all. In addition, several network operators have already planned for future 3G shutdowns.

Country Network Operator 2G Status/ Sunset Date 3G Status/ Sunset Date
Bangladesh Grameenphone 31.12.25 31.12.26
Bahrain Batelco 30.11.21  
Viva/STC   31.10.2023
Zain   31.12.2022
Brunei   No service on all networks  
Cambodia SEATel No service 07.06.2015
Smart   27.06.2022
China China Telecom No service  
China Unicom 14.09.2023 31.12.2024
Hong Kong CMHK   No service
3 No service  
India Airtel Punjab   30.09.2020
Vodafone Delhi   01.04.2022
BSNL   31.12.2024
Jio No service No service
Indonesia AXIS   31.03.2022
3   31.12.2022
Indosat Ooredoo   01.12.2022
Telkomsel   31.05.2023
Israel & Palestine Cellcom 31.12.2025 31.12.2025
Golan   31.12.2025
HOT mobile No service 31.12.2025
Partner 31.12.2025 31.12.2025
Pelephone No service 31.12.2025
Japan KDDI (au) No service on all networks 31.03.22
SoftBank 31.01.24
NTT DOCOMO 31.03.26
Korea (South) KT No service on all networks  
SKTelecom  
Kuwait Wataniya   30.06.2023
Macao CTM No service on all networks  
Hutchison (3)  
SmarTone  
Malaysia Maxis   31.12.2021
Celcom   31.12.2021
U Mobile No service 31.12.2021
DiGi   31.12.2021
YES No service No service
Mongolia Skytel 06.11.2025 31.10.2035
Myanmar Telenor 31.12.2024 31.12.2025
Mytel (Viettel)   No service
Oman Omantel (Oman Mobile)

 

31.12.2025
Ooredoo

 

31.12.2024
Pakistan Jazz   31.12.2023
Telenor 31.12.2025 31.12.2025
Philippines Smart   31.12.2023
Saudi Arabia STC Al-Jawal   31.12.2022
Singapore M1 No service on all networks 31.07.2024
SingTel  
StarHub  
Sri Lanka Dialog   15.11.2023
Mobitel   30.06.2023
Taiwan APTG   No service
Chunghwa 01.06.2017 30.06.2024
FarEasTone 01.06.2017 31.12.2023
T Star 31.12.2018  
Taiwan Mobile 01.06.17  
Thailand dtac    31.12.25
United Arab Emirates DU 31.12.23  
Etisalat 31.12.23  
Vietnam Gtel Mobile (Gmobile) 30.09.2024 No service
Viettel 30.09.2024 30.06.2022
Mobifone 30.09.2024  
Vietnamobile 30.09.2024  
Vinaphone 30.09.2024  
Yemen MTN   No service on all networks
SabaFon  
Y-Telecom  

Europe

In some European countries and networks, it could be the case where 2G may even outlive 3G. For example, Norwegian MNO Telenor announced 3G switch-off in 2020 – five years before 2G. Likewise, Vodafone has announced it is to phase out 3G networks across many European countries in 2021 and 2022.

Country Network Operator 2G Status/ Sunset Date 3G Status/ Sunset Date
Albania Vodafone 31.12.2025  
Austria A1   31.12.2025
T-Mobile   31.12.2024
Belgium Orange 31.12.2030 31.12.2025
Base 31.12.2027 30.09.2024
Proximus   31.12.2025
Bulgaria A1   31.12.2025
Czechia Vodafone 31.12.2025 No service on all networks
O2    
T-Mobile 01.01.2028 30.11.2021
Croatia T-Mobile   15.01.2025
Cyprus  CYTAmobile -Vodafone   31.12.2025 
Denmark Telenor   17.04.2023
Hi3G No service 31.12.2025
Telia   17.04.2023
TDC   Partial: 01.02.2023
Full: 31.12.2023
Estonia Telia   31.12.2023
Tele2   31.12.2025
Falkland Islands Sure   No service
Finland Alands 31.12.2025  
DNA 31.12.2025

31.01.2024

Elisa   31.12.2023
Telia   31.12.2023
France Free Mobile No service  
Orange 31.12.2025 31.12.2028
SFR 31.12.2026 31.12.2028
Bouygues 31.12.2026 31.12.2029
Georgia Beeline No service  
Germany Telekom   No service on all networks
Vodafone 31.12.2025
Telefonica O2  
Greece Cosmote   30.11.2021
Vodafone 31.12.2025 31.05.2023
Wind   13.03.2023
Greenland TELE   03.05.2023
Hungary Vodafone 31.12.2025 30.06.2024
T-Mobile   30.06.2022
Telenor   31.12.2023
Yettel   31.11.2023
Iceland Nova   31.12.2025
Viking 31.12.2025 No service
Vodafone 31.12.2025 31.12.2025
Ireland Vodafone 31.12.2025 15.04.2024
3   31.12.2024
Italy Vodafone   28.02.2021
Telecom Italia Mobile 31.12.2029 31.12.2022
ILIAD No service  
Latvia LMT   31.12.25
Liechtenstein FL1   Partial: 31.12.23
Lithuania Telia 31.12.28 31.12.22
Bite 31.12.28 31.12.25
Luxembourg Orange 31.12.30 31.12.25
Post 31.12.26 30.06.22
Tango   31.01.24
Macedonia Telekom.mk   31.12.22
Malta Melita No service  
Monaco Monaco Telecom No service  
Montenegro Mtel 01.01.25 01.01.25
T-Mobile   31.12.2023
Netherlands Vodafone (Ziggo) 31.12.25 04.02.20
KPN   01.04.22
T-Mobile 01.06.23  
Norway Telenor 31.12.25 31.12.21
Telia 31.12.25 09.11.21
Poland Orange 31.12.2030 31.12.25
T-Mobile 31.12.2030 30.04.2023
Portugal MEO   31.01.2024
Romania Orange 31.12.30 31.12.25
Telekom   01.07.22
Vodafone 31.12.25  
Digi Mobil   29.08.2023
Russia MOTIV (LLC Ekater…)   No service
Slovenia A1 31.12.30 30.06.23
Telekom   30.09.22
Slovakia Orange 31.12.30 01.01.24
O2   31.01.2026
Slovak Telekom   31.12.23
Spain Movistar   31.12.25
Orange 31.12.30 31.12.25
Vodafone 31.12.25 07.11.22
Sweden Tele2 31.12.25 31.12.24
Telia 31.12.25 31.12.23
Telenor   31.12.25
3 No service  
Switzerland Salt No service  
Sunrise 31.12.2022 30.06.2025
Swisscom No service 31.12.25
Ukraine 3Mob No service  
United Kingdom EE   31.12.2024
3 No service 31.12.24
Vodafone   31.12.23
O2   31.12.2025

Oceania

Except for Vodafone New Zealand, most large operators have already switched off 2G service in Australia and New Zealand. On the other hand, there has been no plan for a massive 3G switch-off in the region.

Country Network Operator 2G Status/ Sunset Date 3G Status/ Sunset Date
Australia Telstra   30.06.24
Optus 01.08.2017 30.09.2024
Vodafone 01.06.18 31.12.23
Guam / N. Mariana Islands Docomo No service on all networks  
IT&E 31.03.2024
New Caledonia OPT (Mobilis) 01.01.25 01.01.30
New Zealand 2degrees 01.03.18 31.12.25
Spark 31.03.2007 31.12.2025
Vodafone 31.12.25 31.08.24
Norfolk Island Norfolk Telecom   No service

Non-Terrestrial

Network Operator 2G Status/ Sunset Date 3G Status/ Sunset Date
Wireless Maritime Services sunset activities started  

Please note:

* "No service on all networks" also apply to other networks in the country that are not specified in the table
** All information in this article has been gathered from open sources at best effort. EMnify takes no liability regarding the correctness.

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