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Dec, 10 2020

Global 2G and 3G Phase Out / Sunset: What Do We Know So Far?

With 4G achieving mainstream status and 5G just about to take off, the transition away from legacy tech in existing deployments.

Last updated: October 4, 2021

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Written by EMnify
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With increasing 4G proliferation and 5G already being rolled out in some regions, network operators’ focus has been shifting away from GSM and UMTS networks for quite some time now to free up frequencies for the new technologies.

The move away from legacy technologies will undoubtedly be a significant transition for many IoT and M2M companies, because 2G and 3G connectivity is still the most used technologies for deployed devices. 

With this in mind, we take an overview look at how the global 2G and 3G sunset is progressing. With no global roadmap for phasing-out 2G or 3G, our overview will focus on the state of play by region:

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Africa

Africa is still behind other regions when it comes to refarming 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 Source
Gabon Azur   No Service GSMA
Gambia Comium   No Service GSMA
Mali Sotelma (Malitel)   No Service GSMA
Nigeria Ntel No Service No Service GSMA

 

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 Source
Argentina Claro 31/12/2023 31/12/2025 GSMA
Belize Smart No Service   GSMA
Bonaire / Sint Eustatius / Saba / Curacao / Saint Martin (French part) TelCell SX 01/01/2019   GSMA; Roaming Partner
Brazil Claro 31/12/2023 31/12/2025 GSMA
Canada Bell 30/04/2019   GSMA
Bragg No Service   GSMA
SaskTel 01/07/2017   GSMA
TELUS 31/05/2017   GSMA
Videotron No Service   GSMA
Wind No Service   GSMA
Chile Claro 31/12/2023 31/12/2025 GSMA
WOM S.A. No Service   GSMA
Colombia Claro 31/12/2023 31/12/2025 GSMA
Costa Rica Claro 31/12/2023 31/12/2025 GSMA
Dominican Republic Claro 31/12/2023 31/12/2025 GSMA
Ecuador Claro 31/12/2023 31/12/2025 GSMA
El Salvador Claro 31/12/2024 31/12/2026 GSMA
Equatorial Guinea Getesa   No Service GSMA
Guatemala Claro 31/12/2024 31/12/2026 GSMA
Mexico Radiomovil Dipsa (Telcel) 31/12/2024 31/12/2026 GSMA
AT&T 01/09/2019   GSMA
Movistar 30/04/2021   GSMA; Roaming Partner
Nicaragua Claro 31/12/2024 31/12/2026 GSMA
Panama Claro 31/12/2024 31/12/2026 GSMA
Digicel 08/03/2020   GSMA; Roaming Partner
Paraguay Claro 31/12/2024 31/12/2026 GSMA
Peru Claro 31/12/2024 31/12/2026 GSMA
Puerto Rico Claro 31/12/2023 31/12/2025 GSMA
St. Pierre and Miquelon SPM   No Service GSMA
United States AT&T 01/01/2017 22/02/2022 GSMA
Verizon No Service 31/12/2022 GSMA
Limitless Mobile No Service   GSMA
Union 31/12/2019   GSMA
Viaero 09/05/2018   GSMA
Uruguay Claro 31/12/2023 31/12/2025 GSMA

 

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 Source
Bangladesh Grameenphone 31/12/2025 31/12/2026 GSMA
Brunei UNN 01/06/2021    
Cambodia SEATel No Service 07/06/2015 GSMA
China China Telecom No Service   GSMA
China Unicom 31/12/2021   GSMA
Hong Kong CMHK   No Service GSMA
3 No Service   Roaming Partner
India Airtel Punjab 01/12/2023 30/09/2020 GSMA
Vodafone Delhi   01/04/2022 GSMA
BSNL   31/12/2024 GSMA
Jio No Service No Service GSMA
Indonesia AXIS 01/12/2022   GSMA
Israel & Palestine HOT mobile No Service   GSMA
Pelephone No Service   GSMA
Japan KDDI (au) No Service 31/03/2022 GSMA
SoftBank No Service 31/01/2024 GSMA
NTT DOCOMO No Service 31/03/2026 GSMA
Korea (South) KT No Service   GSMA
SKTelecom No Service   GSMA
Macao CTM 01/06/2015   GSMA
Hutchison (3) 01/06/2015   GSMA
SmarTone 26/11/2019   GSMA
Malaysia Maxis   01/10/2021 GSMA
Celcom   31/12/2021 GSMA
U Mobile No Service 31/12/2021 GSMA
DiGi 31/12/2024 31/12/2024 GSMA
YES No Service No Service GSMA
Mongolia Skytel No Service   GSMA
Myanmar Telenor 31/12/2024 31/12/2025 GSMA
Mytel (Viettel)   No Service GSMA
Nepal Nepal Telecom   31/12/2021 GSMA
Pakistan Telenor 31/12/2025 31/12/2025 GSMA
Saudi Arabia STC Al-Jawal   31/12/2022 GSMA
Singapore M1 01/04/2017   GSMA
SingTel 01/04/2017   GSMA
StarHub 01/04/2017   GSMA
Taiwan APTG   No Service GSMA; Roaming Partner
Chunghwa 01/06/2017   GSMA
FarEasTone 01/06/2017   GSMA
T Star 31/12/2018   GSMA
Taiwan Mobile 01/06/2017   GSMA
Thailand dtac  31/12/2021 31/12/2025 GSMA
United Arab Emirates DU 31/12/2022   GSMA
Etisalat 31/12/2022   GSMA
Vietnam Gtel Mobile (Gmobile) 31/03/2022 No Service GSMA
Mobifone 31/03/2022   GSMA
Vietnamobile 31/03/2022   GSMA
Viettel 31/03/2022   GSMA
Vinaphone 31/03/2022   GSMA
Yemen MTN   No Service GSMA
SabaFon   No Service GSMA
Y-Telecom   No Service GSMA

 

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 Source
Albania Vodafone 31/12/2025   GSMA
Austria A1   31/12/2025 GSMA
Bulgaria A1   31/12/2025 GSMA
Czech Republic Vodafone 31/12/2025 31/03/2021 GSMA; Roaming Partner
O2   30/11/2021 GSMA
T-Mobile   31/12/2021 GSMA
T-Mobile 31/12/2025   GSMA
Denmark Telenor 31/12/2025 31/07/2022 GSMA; Others
Hi3G No Service 31/12/2025 GSMA
Telia 31/12/2025 31/12/2025 GSMA
TDC 31/12/2022   GSMA
Estonia Telia 31/12/2025 31/12/2023 GSMA
Falkland Islands Sure   No Service GSMA
Finland Alands 31/12/2025   GSMA
DNA 31/12/2025 31/12/2023 GSMA
Elisa   31/12/2023 GSMA
Telia 31/12/2025 31/12/2023 GSMA
France Free Mobile No Service   GSMA
Georgia Beeline No Service   Others
Germany Telekom   30/06/2021 GSMA
Vodafone 31/12/2025 30/06/2021 GSMA; Roaming Partner
Telefonica O2   31/12/2021 GSMA
Greece Cosmote   30/11/2021 GSMA
Vodafone 31/12/2025 31/12/2022 GSMA
Hungary Vodafone 31/12/2025   GSMA
Iceland Viking   No Service GSMA
Ireland Vodafone 31/12/2025   GSMA
Italy Vodafone   28/02/2021 GSMA; Roaming Partner
ILIAD No Service   GSMA
Lithuania Telia 31/12/2025 31/12/2022 GSMA
Bite 31/12/2028 31/12/2025 GSMA
Luxembourg Post   31/07/2022 GSMA
Malta Melita No Service   GSMA
Monaco Monaco Telecom No Service   Roaming Partner
Montenegro Mtel 01/01/2025 01/01/2025 Others
Netherlands Vodafone (Ziggo) 31/12/2025 04/02/2020 GSMA
KPN   01/04/2022 GSMA
T-Mobile 01/06/2023   GSMA
Norway Telenor 31/12/2025 31/12/2021 GSMA
Network Norway 31/12/2025   GSMA
Telia 31/12/2025   GSMA
Portugal Vodafone 31/12/2025 31/03/2022 GSMA
Romania Vodafone 31/12/2025   GSMA
Russia MOTIV (LLC Ekater…)   No Service GSMA
Slovakia Telekom   31/12/2021 GSMA
Spain Movistar   31/12/2025 GSMA
Vodafone 31/12/2025   GSMA
Sweden Tele2 31/12/2025 01/12/2025 GSMA
Telia 31/12/2025 01/12/2025 GSMA
Telenor 31/12/2025 31/12/2025 GSMA
3 No Service   GSMA
Switzerland Salt 31/12/2023   GSMA
Sunrise 31/12/2022   GSMA; Roaming Partner
Swisscom 31/12/2020   GSMA 
Ukraine 3Mob No Service   GSMA
United Kingdom EE 31/12/2025 31/12/2022 GSMA
Vodafone   31/12/2022 GSMA
3 No Service   GSMA
Vodafone 31/12/2025   GSMA

 

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 Source
Australia Telstra 01/12/2016 30/06/2024 GSMA
Optus 01/08/2017   GSMA
Vodafone 01/06/2018   GSMA
Guam / N. Mariana Islands Docomo 31/10/2018   GSMA
IT&E No Service   Roaming Partner
New Zealand 2degrees 01/03/2018   GSMA; Roaming Partner
Spark 31/03/2007   GSMA
Vodafone 01/12/2025   GSMA
Norfolk Island Norfolk Telecom   No Service GSMA

 Please note:

* "No Service" indicates that either the radio service is not available at all or it has been shut down without specific dates recorded.

** All information in this article has been gathered from open sources at best effort. EMnify takes no liability regarding the correctness. 

If IoT and M2M companies hope to continue to compete after 2G and 3G networks are shut down around the world, they must evolve – and implement hardware that supports modern cellular technologies like LTE-M and NB-IoT. Learn more about EMnify's LTE-M service to future-proof your IoT solution today.

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