Closing Time for Legacy Networks

It’s been a few years since we reviewed the state of the 2G and 3G cell markets to see how community closures have been coming alongside.

There has been loads of exercise since then, and 2025 is shaping as much as be a busy yr for shutdowns.

Switching off these legacy networks permits operators to reuse the dear freed spectrum to help extra superior 4G and 5G providers.

19 International locations Have Dropped 2G So Far

By the top of 2022, ten international locations had switched off all 2G providers. Japan was the primary to make the transfer again in September 2012, and it was nearly three years earlier than the subsequent market–– Macau–– adopted go well with, in June 2015. Singapore and Taiwan had joined them by the top of 2017.

The small Pacific island nation of Tuvalu was additionally among the many early markets to lose 2G, with the nation’s sole operator, Tuvalu Telecommunications Company (TTC), switching out its 900MHz 2G system for a 3G community in October 2015.

Quick ahead to 2025, and we now have 19 international locations which have accomplished their 2G shutdowns. The latest of those got here in February 2025 when Digicel Jamaica confirmed the closure of the island’s final GSM system, with rival operator Stream having accomplished the method in April 2024.

2G Shutdown Timeline
Accomplished and Deliberate Closures

Supply: TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database

There are a variety of operators which are in the midst of the 2G sundown course of.

T-Cellular US confirmed in February that it was starting a phased closure of its 2G community, with rivals Verizon and AT&T having ditched their respective CDMA and GSM methods some years in the past. Whereas T-Cellular has not given an actual finish date, it’s anticipated to be this yr.

The shutdown may also have an effect on Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, which means these territories will bid farewell to 2G for good.

Different markets having confirmed a full 2G switch-off by the top of 2025 embody Iceland, Israel, New Zealand and Venezuela. It’s thought that round 25 international locations may have accomplished 2G community shutdowns by that date.

Busy 12 months for 3G Swap-offs

3G community closures have up to now taken place in twelve international locations, however there are an entire raft of shutdowns deliberate by the top of the yr, by which era greater than 30 nations may have closed down 3G providers fully.

3G Shutdown Timeline
Accomplished and Deliberate Closures

Supply: TeleGeography’s GlobalComms Database

The primary nationwide 3G switch-off came about in Taiwan manner again in December 2018, though this was for knowledge providers solely. Connectivity for voice calls was maintained through circuit-switched fallback (CSFB) expertise in areas with out a 4G sign till the top of June 2024.

The Czech Republic, Germany, and Singapore accomplished 3G switch-offs towards the top of 2017. Extra just lately, in 2024, operators in Indonesia, Australia, and Oman carried out the newest nationwide 3G sunsets.

The Chinese language territory of Macau accomplished the newest 3G switch-off, with a full community closure on June 5, 2025.

The rest of 2025 will see the listing of nations with out 3G joined by the likes of the U.Ok., Spain, Portugal, Austria, Sweden, Denmark, Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, China, Kuwait, and Qatar.

The Netherlands and Japan, in the meantime, have confirmed an finish date of 2026.

For additional info on community shutdowns, see 2G and 3G sunsets in our GlobalComms Database, which presents historic and forecast knowledge in a downloadable spreadsheet, in addition to:

• Firm profiles showcasing 2G, 3G, 4G, and 5G subscriptions
• Nation profiles protecting the political, financial, and regulatory surroundings for 225 international locations, together with a cell market breakdown
• Market forecasts primarily based on subscription progress, community deployments, operator and authorities targets, and localized market situations