2G / 3G Network Shutdown Status and Challenges

Mobile Network operators shutting down 3G and in some cases, 2G has been a long time coming. Operators across the world have either already shut down their 2G and 3G or are planning to do so in the near future. Up until now, we had several new technologies co-existing with legacy technologies, but it is becoming more complex for Carriers to manage and manufacturers to support.

According to GSAs latest report July 2025 278 operators in 83 countries and territories have completed, planned, or are in the process of switching off their 2G and 3G networks an increase from 77 countries in December 2024.

• 2G networks:

  • A total of 131 operators in 65 countries have completed or scheduled closures (up from 128 operators in 63 countries).

  • Within this group:

    • 51 operators in 29 countries have fully shut down 2G.

    • 66 operators in 40 countries have closures planned.

    • 14 operators in 8 countries are actively phasing out 2G.

• 3G networks:

  • 147 operators in 62 countries are either finished, planning, or currently switching off services.

  • This includes:

    • 78 operators in 40 countries with completed closures.

    • 50 operators in 32 countries with switch-offs planned.

    • 19 operators in 15 countries mid-process.

Some shutdowns are government-driven, such as the UK’s mandate to retire 2G by 2033. Others are operator group-led; for example, Orange has set a 2030 deadline for shutting down 2G and 3G in Europe, though the timeline may differ across its markets.

Europe seems to lead in the number of switch-offs, followed by Asia and North America, although its share has decreased since December 2023.

As legacy technologies are sunset operators continue with their upgrades to both 4G and 5G technology. According to GSA 31.5% will be upgrading to LTE only;

4.6% will be moving to 5G, 5.3% to 3G and LTE; and 1.5% will be upgrading to 3G, 4G, and 5G.

Source: 2025 Global Mobile Suppliers Association

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Global Picture for 2G

Source 2025 Global Mobile Suppliers Association

Global Picture for 3G

Source 2025 Global Mobile Suppliers Association

In Europe, 3G is expected to be switched off before 2G. Around 19 operators are planning to switch off their 3G Network by 2025 and around eight operators are planning to switch off their 2G network by 2025. June 2021 brought the shutdown of 3G in two operators in Germany Vodafone and Deutsche Telekom. Telefonica is also expected to shut down 3G by the end of 2021. In other countries, Telia will look to close 3G in all their countries between 2022 and 2025 and EE will be the first UK network to announce the shutdown of 3G. A detailed breakdown is available in the table below.

For Asia, 2G in countries like Japan was phased out a long time ago. The trend will continue with other countries and operators. A detailed breakdown is available.

The Americas, especially the US is shutting down 2G networks on an accelerated scale. 3G networks will be shut down by all main operators by 2022. Around 15 operators in 7 countries have announced the closure of 2G by the end of 2025. A detailed breakdown is available in the table below.

For Oceania, 2G is almost phased out. In Australia, all 3 operators have shut down their 2G by the end of 2018 and 3G is on the way with Telstra the only one announcing a timeline for the end of 2024. A detailed breakdown is available in the table below.

Africa is the only region where no 2G or 3G shutdowns have been announced so far but it will be part of future planning once newer technologies penetrate more.

A detailed breakdown is available.

What 2G/ 3G shutdowns will mean for end-users?

This will force/encourage people to upgrade their phones to 4G. Many Operators seem to suggest that 2G in Europe will be around until 2030 and this is mainly due to implications of the M2M and IoT applications. In particular, the EU-mandated eCall, where long term agreements are in place, will need to be supported by the 2G technology before the work towards migration to IMS voice is fully completed.

There are several drivers behind this change.

1. Reuse of frequencies for new technology deployments like 4G and 5G. Most 2G use 850, 900, 1,800 or 1,900 MHz frequency bands. The sub-1 GHz bands, are very valuable due to their propagation characteristics, especially delivering greater coverage and in-building penetration.

2. Reduce costs and effort in maintaining legacy radio networks

3. Lower the energy consumption of the network. Vodafone New Zealand has announced back in 2019 that they are expecting around 10% savings in power consumption from migrating away from 2G and 3G technologies.

4. Simplify the network operation

This 2G and 3G network closure change are bringing several challenges to device manufacturers, Carriers/Mobile Network Operators and Mobile Virtual Network Operators.

What will this mean for Smartphone Manufacturers?

IMS (VoLTE & VoWiFi) will need to now be enabled by default on all devices. This will add additional testing requirements to ensure smooth interoperability on all networks to enable end-users to benefit from the latest technology and not rely on legacy technology. Testing on Roaming conditions should also be taken into account to ensure end-users Quality of Experience when using data or voice services.

What will this mean for Mobile Network Operators (MNOs)?

The shutdown of 2G and 3G networks presents both strategic opportunities and operational challenges for MNOs. On one hand, retiring legacy technologies will enable operators to reduce operational and maintenance costs, streamline spectrum use, and reallocate valuable frequency bands to more efficient 4G and 5G networks. This transition supports improved data speeds, lower latency, and future-ready network architectures.

However, these benefits come with important caveats. Operators must ensure robust 4G VoLTE coverage and sufficient network capacity before fully decommissioning 3G, as gaps in VoLTE availability could force users to fall back on 2G voice, leading to poor call quality and degraded customer experience. In areas where 2G is also being retired, this could result in service disruption, dropped calls, or loss of connectivity, ultimately damaging customer trust and brand loyalty.

To mitigate these risks, MNOs should:

• Expand IMS (IP Multimedia Subsystem) capabilities to guarantee consistent VoLTE and VoWiFi performance.

• Conduct extensive testing across both domestic and roaming scenarios.

• Communicate proactively with customers about device compatibility and network changes.

• Maintain Quality of Service (QoS) during and after the transition through careful planning and monitoring.

Ultimately, successful network sunsets depend on ensuring continuity of voice services, managing user migration, and investing in technologies that provide a seamless customer experience.

What will this mean for Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs)?

MVNOs face an even steeper challenge as 2G and 3G shutdowns accelerate globally. Without direct control over network infrastructure, MVNOs are highly dependent on host operators’ migration timelines and technical readiness. The example of Dish’s 2021 warning about disruptions from T-Mobile’s CDMA network shutdown illustrates the significant business risks posed by abrupt legacy network closures.

To remain competitive, MVNOs must:

• Upgrade network agreements with host MNOs to ensure continued access to VoLTE and VoWiFi services.

• Deploy IMS-enabled SIMs and compatible devices, ensuring full interoperability across home and roaming networks.

• Educate customers on device upgrades and service transitions to minimize churn.

• Explore new service models (e.g., digital-first or 5G MVNOs) that leverage the improved capabilities of modern networks.

Failure to adapt could lead to service degradation, lost customers, and reputational harm, especially in markets where legacy networks have supported key customer segments (e.g., IoT or low-cost prepaid users).

In summary, while the 2G/3G shutdowns mark an important milestone in network modernization, both MNOs and MVNOs must strategically manage the migration to protect user experience, brand equity, and long-term competitiveness.

Countries/Territories with VoLTE Service

Status of European Network 2G/3G ShutdownsC

​Country	Network Operator	2G	3G
Albania	Vodafone	By end 2025	Closed 2022
Albania	One Albania		By end 2025
Austria	A1		By end 2025
Austria	T-Mobile		Closed 2024
Austria	Drei		By end 2025
​Belgium	Orange	By end 2030	By end 2025
Belgium	Proximus		Closed 2024
Belgium	Telenet		Closed 2024
Bulgaria	A1	​By end 2025	By end 2025
​Croatia	Hrvaski Telecom		By end 2025
Croatia	A1		By end 2025
Czech Republic	T-Mobile	By end 2025	Closed 2021
Czech Republic	Vodafone	By end 2025	Closed 2021
Czech Republic	O2	By end 2028	Closed 2021
Denmark	Telenor	By end 2025	Closed 2023
Denmark	Hi3G	No Service	By the end 2025
Denmark	Norlys		Closed 2023
Denmark	TDC		Closed 2023
Estonia	Telia	By end 2029	Closed 2023
Estonia	Elisa		Closed 2024
Finland	Elisa	​By end 2029	Closed 2023
Finland	Telia	By end 2029	Closed 2023
Finland	DNA	By end 2029	Closed 2023
France	Orange	By end 2026	By end 2028
France	SFR	By end 2026	​By end 2028
France	Bouygues Telecom	​By end 2026	By end 2029

Country	Network Operator	2G	3G
Germany	Vodafone	By end 2030	Closed 2021
Germany	Telefonica		Closed 2021
Germany	Deutsche Telekom	​By end 2028	Closed Jun 2021
Greece	Nova		Closed 2023
Greece	Cosmote	​By end 2025	Closed 2021
Greece	Vodafone	By end 2025	Closed 2023
Hungary	Magyar Telecom		Closed 2022
Hungary	One	By end 2025	Closed 2023
Ireland	Vodafone	By end 2025	Closed 2024
Ireland	Three	​By end 2025	By end 2025
Italy	TIM	​By end 2029	Closed 2022
Italy	Vodafone	By end 2025	Closed 2021
Italy	Wind		By end 2025
Latvia	Latvijas Mobilais Telefons	​By end 2025	By end 2025
Latvia	Tele2	By end 2025	By end 2025
Latvia	Telia	​By end 2025	Closed 2022
Latvia	Bite	By end 2025	By end 2026
Lithuania	Telia	By end 2025	Closed 2022
Lithuania	Bite	By end 2028	By end 2025
Lithuania	Tele2		By end 2025
Luxembourg	Orange	By end 2030	By end 2025
Luxembourg	Post	​By end 2027	Closed 2022
Malta	Go	By end 2030
Malta	EPIC	By end 2025	​Closed 2024

Country	Network Operator	2G	3G
​Netherlands	​KPN	By end 2027	Closed Mar 2022
Netherlands	Vodafone	By end 2025	Closed Feb 2020
Netherlands	Odido	By end 2025	By end 2026
Norway	Telenor	By end 2027	Closed 2021
Norway	Telia	By end 2025	Closed Dec 2021
Poland	T-Mobile	By end 2030	Closed 2023
Poland	Orange	By end 2023	By end 2025
​Portugal	Vodafone	By end 2025	Closed 2024
Portugal	NOS		Closed 2024
​Romania	Vodafone	By end 2025	​Closed 2023
​Russia	Tele2		By end 2025
​Slovakia	Telekom		Closed 2023
Slovakia	Orange	By end 2030	Closed 2023
Spain	Orange	By end 2030	By end 2025
​Spain	Telefonica	​By end 2025	By end 2025
​Spain	Vodafone	By end 2025	​By end 2025
​​Sweden	Tele2	By end 2025	By end 2025
​Sweden	Telia	By end 2027	By end 2025
​Sweden	Telenor	By end 2025	By end 2025
Switzerland	Sunrise	By end 2023	By end 2025
​Switzerland	Swisscom	Closed 2021	By end 2025
Switzerland	Salt	Closed 2022

Country	Network Operator	2G	3G
United Kingdom	EE	By 2033	Closed 2024
United Kingdom	Vodafone	By end 2030	Closed 2024
United Kingdom	3	-	Closed 2024
United Kingdom	O2	By end 2033	By end 2025

Status of North America Network 2G/3G Shutdowns

Country	Network Operator	2G	3G
US	AT&T	Closed in 2017	Closed 2022
US	Sprint	Closed 2021	Closed 2022
US	T-Mobile	Closed 2025	Closed 2022
US	Verizon	Closed 2020	Closed 2022
Canada	Rogers	Closed 2021	​By end 2025
Canada	SaskTel	Closed 2017
Canada	Telus	Closed 2017	By end 2025
Canada	Bell	Closed 2019	By end 2025

Status of Oceania Network 2G/3G Shutdowns

Country	Network Operator	2G	3G
Australia	Telstra	Closed 2017	Closed 2024
Australia	Optus	Closed 2017	Closed 2024
​Australia	Vodafone	Closed 2018	​Closed 2024
New Zealand	Vodafone	By end 2025	​By end 2025
New Zealand	Two Degrees Network	​Closed 2018	Closed 2018
New Zealand	Spark	Closed 2017	By end 2026

Please note that data has been collected during August 2025 from various sources and is subject to change based on each Mobile Network Operator's schedule and timelines.

3G

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How can SmartViser Help?

The widespread shutdown of 2G and 3G networks, combined with the rapid deployment of 5G and emerging technologies, presents a major challenge for the entire telecommunications ecosystem — including Mobile Network Operators (MNOs), device manufacturers, MVNOs, regulators, and technology partners. Ensuring service continuity, maintaining quality of experience, and validating device and network interoperability across evolving standards are critical yet complex tasks. SmartViser can help organizations navigate these challenges through its test automation and managed test service offerings, enabling faster, more reliable validation of network performance, voice and data services, and user experience across multiple technologies and markets.

OPTION 1 - Test Automation

Empower your team with the Test Automation Solution viSer to ensure superior Quality of Service QoS and Quality of Experience QoE.

Test all key functions like VoLTE, VoWiFi, Data throughput, Audio MOS, Battery performance etc in live network or roaming conditions:

OPTION 2 - Test Services

Testing as a Service. Send us your devices in one or multiple locations across Europe. You no longer need to arrange and schedule travel for your staff. We can propose Network Test interoperability and test VoLTE/VoWiFi across any network in Europe.

Our team of expert Test Engineers will provide logs to help the speedy resolution of issues and the test automation viSer will ensure greater testing scope in shorter times.

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Susie Siouti is the Chief Commercial Officer for SmartViser helping organisations in the Telecommunications industry offer superior end-user quality of experience and service with the introduction of innovative test automation products. Susie has 20 years of experience in the Telecoms industry and in that time has led teams across the world mainly in Testing and Compliance. Holding an MBA from Henley Business School brings a diverse set of skills and expertise, including business acumen, strategic thinking, financial management, sales and marketing expertise, leadership, and innovation.

Susie joined SmartViser in 2016, is part of the internal steering committee, responsible for developing and implementing the company's commercial strategy and encouraging a customer-centric culture. The main mission is to help organizations to create value by offering better quality products and services by improving operational efficiency and innovation.