Latest update on January 20, 2022
Many of our customers are concerned about the upcoming shutdown of 2G and 3G networks around the world. You are probably thinking about it too. We have compiled all the available information into one article, so you are in the right place.
The shutdown of 2G and 3G networks is commonly referred to as sunsetting. Telecom companies are looking to shut down their 2G or 3G networks because they want to free up resources for the upcoming 5G deployments.
If your module is designed to use 2G or 3G, the phasing out of the network may cause problems for many devices. So it's wise to prepare for a future without 2G and 3G networks.
2G and 3G are still essential for IoT and M2M devices because they are cheaper than 4G modules. In addition, megabyte prices are cheaper and global coverage is reliable. Moreover, the speeds of 4G are not relevant for IoT or M2M devices that send minimal amounts of data. The slow 2G connection is still fast enough for today's standards.
From our side, we can say that for truly global deployments, it does not make sense to commit your device to 2G or 3G only. Or even to have a module that allows you to switch between the two. However, if you are only targeting specific countries or regions where they are still a viable option, we can not stop you.
Below is a list of shutdowns that have been announced or have already taken place.
Telkom
Vodacom
Grameenphone
Unicom
China Mobile
XL Excelcom
Airtel
Vodafone
IDEA India
NTT DoCoMo
KDDI
SoftBank
All carriers
Hutchison
SmarTone
CTM
All carriers due to governmental regulation
Digi
Telenor
Mobilink
M1
3G will start shutting down from 2025+1
SingtelStarHub
All carriers due to governmental regulation
All carriers due to governmental regulation
DTAC TriNet
All carriers due to governmental regulation
CNT
Vodafone across Europe
A1
A1 (Mobitel)
T-Mobile
O2
T-Mobile
Three
TT-Netvaerket
Telenor
Telia
TDC
Telia
DNA
Elisa
TeliaSonera
SFR
Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile)
Telefónica / O2
Vodafone
Cosmote
Vodafone
Hutchinson 3G
O2
Telia
Telia
Bite
Post Luxembourg
EPIC
M-Tel
T-Mobile
KPN
Vodafone
Telenor
Com4
Telia
T-Mobile
Vodafone
Telefonica Espana (Movistar)
Vodafone
Slovak Telecom
Swisscom (Switzerland and Liechtenstein)
Sunrise Communications
BT (EE)
Vodafone UK
Rogers Wireless
SakTel
AT&T
Verizon
T-Mobile
Cricket wireless
CNT
Pelephone
Umniah Mobile Company
STC
Zain
Mobily
Telstra
Optus
Vodafone
Spark
2degrees
Vodafone
Sunsets do not have to be the end of your deployment dreams. If you plan properly, you can avoid all the headaches by choosing the right hardware for your deployment region from the start. You can read more about the different modems that support 2G, 3G, 4G and eSIM here.
We will also update this article or make new posts when new announcements are made by telecom companies regarding their 2G or 3G shutdowns around the world.
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References:
1. GSMA Legacy mobile network rationalisation, Experiences of 2G and 3G migrations in Asia-Pacific, May 2020