313 Operators Are Shutting Down 2G and 3G: The Complete State of the Global Switch-Off in 2026

When broken down by technology, 3G is being retired much faster than 2G:

• 3G-specific: 174 operators in 85 markets have completed or planned 3G shutdowns, with 102 already finished .
• 2G-specific: 139 operators in 70 markets have completed or planned 2G shutdowns, with 56 already finished .

A total of 27 operators have now retired both their 2G and 3G networks entirely .

Where Are Shutdowns Happening? The Regional Picture

Europe is the clear global leader in legacy network retirements, though its share has dipped slightly as other regions accelerate.

European countries including Germany, Belgium, and the Netherlands have already phased out 3G while retaining limited 2G coverage for legacy use cases . In the UK, all mobile network operators have committed to shutting down both 2G and 3G by 2033, with all UK 3G networks expected to be switched off by early 2026 .

In Asia-Pacific, the transition is well underway. India's Bharti Airtel shut down its 3G network in 2020, and Vodafone Idea followed in 2025, both redeploying spectrum into 4G and 5G upgrades . Australia completed 3G shutdowns in June 2024 after retiring 2G in 2017 . Singapore retired 2G in 2017 and decommissioned 3G in 2024 .

North America is close to finishing entirely. The United States and Canada have largely completed 3G and are now finishing 2G. T-Mobile's 2G GSM network shutdown occurred on August 3, 2026 .

Why Operators Are Pulling the Plug

Mobile operators are not shutting down 2G and 3G on a whim. Four key drivers explain the urgency:

Spectrum refarming for LTE and 5G. Operators are redeploying low-band and mid-band spectrum (such as 900 MHz, 1800 MHz, and 2100 MHz) from 2G and 3G to 4G and 5G to improve capacity, coverage, and spectral efficiency .

Reduced energy consumption. Retiring old base stations and radio equipment eliminates substantial operating expenses for power and cooling. This is a growing focus as operators pursue net-zero targets and lower operational costs .

Network simplification and security. Fewer parallel network layers mean lower maintenance costs, simpler operations, and the ability to shift staff and resources to next-generation infrastructure .

Consumer migration. The vast majority of consumer traffic has already moved to 4G and 5G, making legacy networks increasingly uneconomical to maintain .

The Biggest Obstacle: IoT and M2M Device Replacement

Despite the rapid pace, many operators have missed their initial shutdown targets. The single biggest reason is the installed base of IoT and M2M devices .

Some industries — such as utilities with smart meters, automotive telematics, industrial sensors, and security alarm systems — use devices with 10- to 15-year lifespans that were originally built for 2G or 3G modules . Replacing or upgrading those fleets is expensive, logistically complex, and takes years .

• Operators have publicly noted that many IoT and M2M customers were slow to begin migration, despite early notifications .
• The long replacement cycle means that even when operators set aggressive sunset dates, they sometimes must delay or phase shutdowns to avoid stranding critical infrastructure .
• 2G networks are being cut more slowly than 3G in part because a larger installed base of IoT devices still depends on 2G .

Other obstacles include ensuring continued coverage for emergency communications (such as eCall in vehicles), roaming dependencies, and regulatory uncertainty in some regions .

Outlook: What Comes Next in 2026 and Beyond

The GSA report notes that 2025 was the most active year for legacy network shutdowns, and the pace continues to accelerate through 2026 .

• More operators are committing to 2G shutdowns now that 3G is largely done. Several European operators, such as Orange which plans to phase out 2G and 3G from 2025 to 2030, are moving toward full 2G retirement .
• Regulatory tailwinds are building. Governments in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Africa are increasingly setting target dates for 2G and 3G switch-offs to free spectrum for digital transformation .
• The main uncertainty is long-tail IoT. The GSMA and ETNO have emphasized that continued coordination with enterprise and industrial users will be needed to avoid service disruptions during the multi-year tail end of the transition .

The message for anyone running connected devices on legacy networks is clear: migration planning is no longer optional. As 2G and 3G networks disappear market by market, the window for cost-effective replacements is closing fast.