Shutdown of 2G and 3G networks – how does it affect carriers?

A large number of telecom companies are choosing to shut down their 2G and 3G networks by the end of 2025.

In recent years, more and more network operators around the world have chosen to say no to 2G and/or 3G networks in order to increase the coverage of 4G and 5G networks.

This means that with the shutdown of these networks, many consumers will be affected, and older generation devices that use 2G and/or 3G technology will no longer be able to function by connecting to the network.

In the case of transport, the problem is even stronger, as many transporters use GPS equipment over a 2G signal, because they are much more advantageously priced, and until recently seemed to be the best option for small companies.

In the following, we will present you the most important information regarding the closure of 2G and 3G networks and how you can adapt accordingly to the situation that will expand in the next period.

Network operators want 2G and 3G networks shut down

Due to the increase in the quality of 4G and 5G networks, shutting down 2G and 3G networks is an option increasingly chosen by telecommunications providers.

The closure of 2G and 3G networks would mean an expansion of 4G and 5G services, being of a much higher quality.

This shutdown of services is happening gradually, however, worldwide.

It is important to note that 2G and 3G network shutdowns vary from network provider to network provider.

Not all telcos choose to shut down both networks, some opting to shut down only 2G, others to shut down the 3G network, and some to shut down both networks simultaneously or several years apart.

Depending on this aspect, users of certain telecommunications companies will be affected to a lesser or greater extent.

Why 2G and 3G networks are shutting down

Basically, telecommunications companies want to expand the area of 4G and 5G networks.

To do this, they have to choose to stop providing either 2G or 3G networks. In this way, they can expand the 4G and 5G frequency spectrums and increase the quality of services, as 2G and 3G are technologically outdated.

Moreover, the number of users of 2G and 3G networks is decreasing all over the world, as new phones and devices have access to 4G and 5G, which provide a significantly higher quality of transmitted data.

Here, however, problems arise for devices on the market that use the 2G or 3G network and that can remain practically outside of any coverage range.

Shutdown of 2G and 3G networks in Europe

A large proportion of European telecommunications companies will shut down 2G and 3G networks by the end of 2025. Some telecommunications companies in countries such as Switzerland, the Netherlands and Liechtenstein have already shut down their 2G network.

By the end of 2023, the countries that intend to close the 3G network are Denmark, Slovakia, Greece, Hungary and Sweden.

You can find the approximate network closure plan here:

Country	Operator	network shutdown 2G	network shutdown 3G
Albania	Vodafone	12/31/2025
Austria	T-Mobile Austria GmbH		12/31/2025
Belgium	ORANGE Belgium nv/SA	12/31/2030	12/31/2025
Belgium	Proximus PLC		12/31/2024
Belgium	Telenet Group BVBA/SPRL		9/30/2024
Bulgaria	A1 Bulgaria EAD		12/31/2025
Cyprus	Cyprus Telecommunications Authority	12/31/2025
Czech Republic	O2		11/30/2021
Czech Republic	T-Mobile	12/31/2025	11/30/2021
Czech Republic	Vodafone	12/31/2025	3/31/2021
Denmark	HI3G Denmark ApS	1/1/2015	12/31/2025
Denmark	Nuuday A/S		12/31/2022
Denmark	Telenor A/S	12/31/2025	3/31/2023
Denmark	Telia Nattjanster Norden AB	12/31/2025	12/31/2025
Estonia	Tele2 Eesti Aktsiaselts		12/31/2025
Estonia	Telia Eesti AS	12/31/2025	11/30/2023
Finland	Alands	12/31/2025
Finland	DNA	12/31/2025	12/31/2023
Finland	Elisa		12/31/2023
Finland	Telia	12/31/2025	12/31/2023
France	Bouygues Télécom	12/31/2026	12/31/2029
France	Free Mobile	1/1/2015
France	Orange	12/31/2025	12/31/2028
France	Société Française du Radiotéléphone S.A.	12/31/2026	12/31/2028
Germany	Telefonica O2		11/30/2021
Germany	Telekom		6/30/2021
Germany	Vodafone	12/31/2025	6/30/2021
Greece	Cosmote		11/30/2021
Greece	Nova		3/13/2023
Greece	Vodafone	12/31/2025	3/25/2023
Hungary	Magyar Telekom Nyrt.		6/30/2022
Hungary	Vodafone Hungary Ltd.	12/31/2025	11/30/2022
Hungary	Yettel Hungary Ltd		12/31/2023
Iceland	IMC Ísland ehf.	12/31/2025	1/1/2015
Iceland	Nova ehf.	1/1/2015	12/31/2025
Iceland	Síminn h.f.	12/31/2024	12/31/2025
Iceland	Sýn hf.	12/31/2025	12/31/2025
Ireland	Three Ireland (Hutchison) Limited		1/4/2023
Ireland	Vodafone Ireland Limited	12/31/2025
Italy	Fastweb S.p.A.	1/1/2015
Italy	ILIAD Italia S.p.A.	1/1/2015
Italy	Telecom Italia SpA	12/31/2029
Italy	Vodafone Italia S.p.A		2/28/2021
Latvia	Latvijas Mobilais Telefons		12/31/2025
Liechtenstein	Swisscom (Switzerland) Ltd (Liechtenstein)	1/1/2021	12/31/2025
Lithuania	Telia Lietuva AB	12/31/2025	12/31/2022
Lithuania	UAB Bitė Lietuva	12/31/2028	12/31/2025
Luxembourg	Orange Communications Luxembourg S.A.	12/31/2030
Luxembourg	POST Luxembourg		10/3/2022
Macedonia	Makedonski Telekom AD		12/31/2022
Malta	Melita Ltd.	1/1/2015	1/2/2015
Netherlands	KPN B.V.		4/1/2022
Netherlands	T-Mobile Netherlands B.V.	6/1/2023
Netherlands	Vodafone Libertel B.V.	12/31/2025	2/4/2020
Norway	ICE Communication Norge AS	1/1/2015	1/1/2015
Norway	Telenor Norge AS	12/31/2025	12/31/2021
Norway	Telia Norge AS	12/31/2025	11/9/2021
Poland	Orange Polska S.A.	12/31/2030	12/31/2025
Poland	T-Mobile Polska S.A.		4/30/2023
Portugal	DIGI PORTUGAL, SOCIEDADE UNIPESSOAL, LDA	1/1/2015
Portugal	Vodafone Portugal – Comunicações Pessoais, S.A.	12/31/2025	12/31/2023
Romania	S.C. Orange România S.A.	12/31/2030	12/31/2025
Romania	S.C. RCS & RDS S.A.	1/1/2015
Romania	Telekom Romania Mobile Communications S.A.		7/1/2022
Romania	S.C. Vodafone Romania S.A.	12/31/2025
Slovakia	Orange Slovensko, a.s.	12/31/2030	12/31/2023
Slovakia	Slovak Telekom, a.s.		12/31/2023
Slovakia	SWAN Mobile, a.s.		1/1/2015
Slovenia	A1 Slovenija, d.d.	12/31/2030	6/30/2023
Slovenia	T-2 d.o.o.	1/1/2015
Slovenia	Telekom Slovenije d.d.		9/30/2022
Spain	Orange Espagne, S.A., sociedad unipersonal	12/31/2030	12/31/2025
Spain	Telefónica Móviles España S.A.		12/31/2025
Spain	Vodafone España, S.A.U.	12/31/2025	12/31/2025
Sweden	Hi3G Access AB	1/1/2015
Sweden	Tele2 AB	12/31/2025	12/1/2025
Sweden	Telenor Sverige AB		12/31/2025
Sweden	Telia Company AB	12/31/2025	12/31/2023
Switzerland	Salt Mobile SA	12/31/2020
Switzerland	Sunrise UPC GmbH	1/3/2023
Switzerland	Swisscom (Switzerland) Ltd	4/30/2021	12/31/2025
Ukrain	TriMob LLC	1/1/2015
Great Britain	EE Limited	12/31/2025	12/31/2024
Great Britain	Hutchison 3G UK Limited	1/1/2015	12/31/2024
Great Britain	Telet Research (N.I.) Limited	1/1/2015	1/1/2015
Great Britain	Vodafone Ltd	12/31/2025	12/31/2023

How does it affect carriers?

The shutdown of 2G and 3G networks will significantly affect the field of transport.

Car fleets that are equipped with 2G or 3G equipment will need radical changes to be able to use GPS tracking effectively.

Why exactly? Carriers will start seeing location update issues in countries that shut down 2G or 3G networks.

Basically, GPS equipment will no longer transmit any information when it enters a territory not covered by operating networks.

In this sense, real-time access to:

• The exact location of the vehicle;
• Vehicle condition;
• Tachograph recordings, which can only be downloaded when the vehicle is in a country with a 2G/3G network;
• Notifications and alerts received via GPS equipment will experience significant delays;
• Location sharing with other partners will be affected;

What can you do next after the 2G and 3G networks are closed?

In the following period, it is important to check the network compatibility of the GPS equipment mounted on your cars, if it only works with 2G, 3G, and/or 4G networks.

Thus, you can start to consider replacing them with other GPS equipment that is compatible with the 4G network, to ensure that in the coming years you will get rid of any worries regarding access to the data of your cars, regardless of their location.

In this way, you will get rid of the stress caused by the changes and you will be able to have a much better control over the vehicles in your fleet.

Advice from the field

In the field of telematics, GPS equipment through the 2G network was used a lot, because they had an efficiency suitable for the needs of the respective period.

However, the digitization that inevitably influences the field of transport also requires the development of technology, for a much faster and more optimal operation.

In this sense, through GPS equipment operating in the 4G network, data transfer will be much faster, downloading data, sending routes and documents will be done in a much shorter time.

Moreover, with the increase in market demand for GPS equipment through the 4G network, their prices will increase.

Thus, it is only to your advantage to take action early, to avoid purchasing the same services, at much higher prices.

What can you do to get out of trouble?

It is recommended to start by ensuring the network compatibility of your equipment.

You can talk to the company from which you purchased the GPS equipment or you can contact the company to receive the support you need in this process.

The CargoTrack team is at your disposal to help you check the compatibility of GPS equipment and how to start the steps to change it.

Talk now to a CargoTrack consultant and check your GPS equipment!