When Is 2G and 3G Being Switched Off? Worldwide Shutdown Dates
There is no single global shutdown date. 2G and 3G are disappearing country by country, operator by operator.
The short answer: many major 3G networks are already gone, while 2G will remain in some countries for several more years because alarms, meters, cars and industrial equipment still depend on it. The exact deadline depends on your mobile operator, not simply your country.
Worldwide 2G and 3G shutdown planner
This table covers major markets with confirmed operator or regulator information. It is not a promise that every network in a country follows the same date, so always check your actual carrier before replacing or deploying equipment.
| Market | 2G status | 3G status | Key date / position |
|---|---|---|---|
| United States | Mostly retired | Major networks retired | AT&T 3G ended Feb 2022; T-Mobile UMTS July 2022; Verizon 3G Jan 2023. T-Mobile retired its remaining 2G GSM network on Aug 3, 2026. |
| United Kingdom | Closing gradually | Retired | All major 3G networks are off. UK operators have committed not to run 2G beyond 2033, though individual networks may close earlier. |
| France | Closing in 2026 | 2028–2029 | Orange and Bouygues are phasing out 2G across 2026; SFR targets Nov 15, 2026. 3G closures begin from 2028. |
| Germany | 2028 | Already retired | Deutsche Telekom targets June 30, 2028; Vodafone Sep 2028; O2/Telefónica in the second half of 2028. Vodafone keeps selected critical IoT 2G support to end-2030. |
| Netherlands | KPN: Dec 1, 2027 | KPN retired | KPN switched off 3G in 2022 and will end 2G on Dec 1, 2027. |
| Switzerland | Major 2G retired | Closing/closed in 2026 | Swisscom scheduled its final 3G shutdown for Apr 7, 2026 after phasing it out from late 2025. |
| Canada | Operator dependent | Mar 1, 2027 | Bell and TELUS list March 1, 2027 for national 3G retirement, with Manitoba moved earlier. Rogers is also retiring legacy networks on its own timetable. |
| Australia | Retired | Retired | Australia’s 3G shutdown across major networks completed in 2024; 2G was retired earlier. |
| New Zealand | Mostly retired | Retired in 2026 | 2degrees completed 3G shutdown Feb 2, One NZ completed 2G/3G shutdown Mar 23, and Spark shut 3G on Mar 31, 2026. |
| Japan | Retired | Retired | KDDI ended 3G in 2022, SoftBank in 2024, and NTT DOCOMO closed FOMA 3G on Mar 31, 2026. |
| Singapore | Retired | Retired / phased out | 2G ended in 2017. Operators began retiring 3G from Aug 2024 after customer migration to 4G/5G. |
| Hong Kong | Operator dependent | Phased retirement | Several operators have already closed 2G; China Mobile HK ended 3G on June 30, 2025, with other operator shutdowns continuing through 2026. |
Important: an operator may shut down one technology while another carrier in the same country keeps it running. Roaming can also fail before your home network closes if the partner network abroad has already retired 2G or 3G.
Europe has some of the clearest upcoming deadlines
Europe is leading the global retirement wave. France is in the middle of a major 2G transition now, while Germany and the Netherlands have published clear 2027–2028 dates. The UK has already finished its 3G shutdown but is keeping 2G longer because of legacy devices and telecare.
France
Germany
Netherlands
United Kingdom
North America and Asia-Pacific are at different stages
The United States and Australia have already moved through most of the consumer 3G transition, while Canada still has a major national 3G deadline ahead in 2027. New Zealand completed multiple shutdowns in early 2026, and Japan’s final major 3G network closed in March.
United States
Major nationwide 3G networks are gone. The final large legacy GSM holdout, T-Mobile 2G, was retired in August 2026. Older phones and machine-to-machine devices should now be treated as upgrade candidates.
Canada
Bell and TELUS list March 1, 2027 as the national 3G retirement date. A phone can show 4G for data yet still lose voice service if it does not support carrier-approved VoLTE.
Australia & New Zealand
Australia’s major 3G shutdown finished in 2024. New Zealand’s major operators completed their 3G transitions during February and March 2026.
Japan & East Asia
Japan’s major 3G networks are now retired. Hong Kong is still progressing operator by operator, while Singapore began its 3G retirement in 2024 after ending 2G years earlier.
What stops working when 2G or 3G is switched off?
The risk is not limited to very old phones. Some early 4G devices still depend on 3G for voice calls, while millions of non-phone devices were designed around long-lived 2G modules.
Can lose calls, SMS, data and emergency calling entirely.
A phone may use 4G data but still fall back to 3G for voice.
Emergency calling, diagnostics and connected services can depend on legacy modules.
Older alarm communicators may use 2G or 3G as their primary or backup path.
Vulnerable-user equipment needs careful migration before service ends.
Long replacement cycles are one reason 2G often survives longer than 3G.
Newer mobile broadband increasingly depends on 4G and 5G. If you want the broader technology context, our guide to 5G home broadband pros and cons explains what modern cellular networks can deliver beyond phone service.
How to prepare before your network shuts down
Do not wait until the final switch-off day. Phones are the obvious part, but business and household equipment can be harder to identify because the mobile modem may be hidden inside another product.
Use the carrier’s own shutdown page rather than relying only on a national deadline.
Make a normal call with Wi-Fi off and check whether the phone remains on 4G/LTE or 5G.
Check alarms, vehicle trackers, payment terminals, gates, lifts, meters and telecare equipment.
A device that works at home can fail abroad if a roaming partner has already retired the needed network.
For critical systems, get written confirmation that the replacement supports your carrier’s 4G/5G bands and VoLTE profile.
Check voice, data, SMS and emergency-call compatibility using the method recommended by your provider.
3G is already gone in many major markets. 2G often lasts longer because machines still use it. The safest rule is to check your exact operator, confirm VoLTE, and audit anything with a hidden SIM before the deadline arrives.
2G and 3G switch-off FAQs
Is there one worldwide date when 2G and 3G will be switched off?
No. Shutdown dates are set by individual operators and regulators, so the timetable varies by country and even by network within the same country.
Can a 4G phone still stop working after a 3G shutdown?
Yes. Some older 4G phones use 3G for voice calls and emergency calling. A device generally needs compatible VoLTE support, correct software and the right network settings to remain fully usable after 3G is retired.
Sources
- GSA — global 2G and 3G switch-off tracking.
- Ofcom — UK 3G completion and 2G timetable.
- Arcep — current French operator shutdown dates.
- Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone Germany and Telefónica Germany — 2028 German 2G schedules.
- KPN — Netherlands 2G retirement on Dec 1, 2027.
- Swisscom — Swiss 3G shutdown.
- ACMA — Australian 3G shutdown.
- TELUS and Bell — Canadian 3G retirement.
- Spark, One NZ and 2degrees — New Zealand shutdown completion.