2G and 3G Sunset for IoT

What network shutdowns mean for connected devices, global fleets, and migration planning.

Last updated: April 2026

The 2G and 3G sunset is no longer a single future deadline. It is a fragmented, multi-year transition that is already complete in some markets, underway in others, and still years away in selected regions. For IoT deployments, the risk is not only loss of coverage. It is also firmware behavior, fallback logic, roaming maturity, SMS dependency, hardware replacement, and long-term lifecycle planning.

2G and 3G Sunset: The Short Version

Shutdowns are ongoing globally, but timing varies by country and operator. In many regions, 3G is being retired first, while 2G may remain longer for legacy IoT, payments, emergency services, and low-bandwidth use cases.
For IoT, the risk is not only network loss. Firmware behavior, fallback logic, SMS dependency, roaming maturity, and hardware lifecycle all affect whether devices stay connected.
There is no single replacement technology. LTE Cat-1/Cat-1 bis is often a lower-risk baseline for global fleets, while LTE-M and NB-IoT remain strong for specific low-power and coverage-sensitive use cases.

2G and 3G Sunset Strategy Guide for IoT

A 2026 guide to planning IoT connectivity after 2G and 3G shutdowns, covering replacement technologies, roaming maturity, firmware risks, and long-life device strategy.

Download the guide

2G/3G IoT Migration Checklist

Use this checklist to identify sunset risk, validate replacement technologies, and reduce disruption before legacy networks are switched off.

Audit devices that still rely on 2G or 3G for primary connectivity, fallback, SMS, voice, emergency calling (where applicable), or roaming.
Map shutdown exposure by country, operator, and roaming agreement so you can prioritize the markets and devices most at risk.
Test firmware behavior when networks are unavailable, degraded, or reject attachment. Devices should move to the best available network instead of repeatedly retrying weak or unsupported legacy signals.
Compare replacement technologies based on mobility, indoor coverage, power consumption, throughput, roaming maturity, firmware update needs, and expected device lifetime.
Consider eSIM and eUICC for long-term flexibility, especially when devices may need operator profile changes as network conditions, commercial agreements, or regulations evolve.
Validate performance before scaling by testing devices in the actual countries, networks, and environments where they will operate.

Why 2G and 3G Sunsets Create Uneven Risk for IoT

2G and 3G shutdown timelines vary by country, operator, and technology generation. Some markets have already completed 3G shutdowns, while others continue to support 2G for legacy IoT, emergency services, payments, or other long-life applications.

For global IoT fleets, this creates uneven risk. Devices may lose coverage in one market while continuing to operate in another, or they may behave unpredictably if fallback logic, SMS dependencies, roaming, or firmware updates were not designed for phased network shutdowns.

The trend is visible in the shutdown pattern: 3G sunsets have accelerated in recent years, while 2G sunsets are more fragmented and continue later in some markets.

This reflects a broader global trend: GSMA Intelligence has reported a continued rise in legacy network sunsets, with operators retiring 2G and 3G networks to reuse spectrum and network resources for newer technologies.

2G and 3G Shutdown Status by Region

2G and 3G shutdown timelines vary by region, country, operator, and network generation. In many markets, 3G networks have been retired first, while 2G may remain available longer because it still supports low-bandwidth IoT devices, emergency services, payment terminals, alarms, and other long-life applications.

For IoT deployments, the 2G/3G sunset cannot be managed as one global deadline. A connected product may lose 3G in one country, still rely on 2G fallback in another, and require newer cellular technologies elsewhere.

Note: Network sunset timelines can change as operators update their plans, regulators intervene, or legacy service requirements evolve. Use regional information as a planning reference and validate current status for the countries, operators, and roaming scenarios relevant to your deployment.

Europe: One of the most active regions for 2G and 3G retirement, with 3G often prioritized first and 2G sometimes maintained longer for legacy IoT and critical low-bandwidth services.
The Nordics: A highly relevant region for Telenor IoT customers, where shutdown timing, fallback technologies, roaming arrangements, and firmware behavior should be reviewed at operator level.
The Americas: North America’s 3G shutdowns are largely complete, while timing across the wider Americas continues to vary by country and operator.
Asia-Pacific: A fragmented region that includes both early sunset markets and markets where 2G or 3G continues to support legacy M2M and IoT use cases.
Africa: In many markets, 2G remains important for broad coverage, basic connectivity, and low-cost devices, making practical coverage validation especially important.

2G and 3G Sunset Maps: Expected Network Status by 2027

The maps below show Telenor IoT’s expected global 2G and 3G sunset status by the end of 2027, based on completed, announced, and planned network shutdown information from telecom operators.

Use them as a planning reference for IoT deployments. Actual availability may vary by country, operator, roaming agreement, device capability, and local market conditions. Telenor IoT continuously reviews operator data and updates the maps as new information becomes available.

Map showing expected global 2G network sunset status by the end of 2027 — The 2G sunset map shows a mixed global picture, with 2G expected to remain available longer in some regions because of legacy IoT, emergency services, payment systems, and low-bandwidth use cases. Source: Telenor IoT analysis based on completed, announced, and planned 2G network sunset information from telecom operators. Future dates may change as operator plans evolve.

Map showing expected global 3G network sunset status by the end of 2027 — The 3G sunset map shows that many markets are expected to have completed or advanced 3G shutdowns by the end of 2027, although availability varies by country and operator. Source: Telenor IoT analysis based on completed, announced, and planned 3G network sunset information from telecom operators. Future dates may change as operator plans evolve.

What Do 2G and 3G Shutdowns Mean for IoT Deployments?

For IoT deployments, 2G and 3G shutdowns can affect more than basic network coverage. Many connected products have long lifecycles and may stay in the field for 10 years or more. If those devices depend on 2G or 3G for primary connectivity, fallback, SMS, voice, or roaming, network retirement can create service disruption, customer impact, and unexpected operational costs.

The risk is especially high for large or distributed fleets. A device may continue working in one country while losing connectivity in another. A multi-mode device may technically support newer networks but still fail if its firmware keeps retrying a weak legacy signal, cannot handle network rejection correctly, or depends on SMS functionality that is no longer supported in the same way.

Choosing the Right Replacement Technology for 2G and 3G

There is no single replacement technology for every 2G or 3G IoT deployment. The right choice depends on where devices operate, whether they move, how much data they send, how long they need to stay in the field, and how much power they can consume.

For many international IoT fleets, LTE Cat-1 and LTE Cat-1 bis have become strong baseline options because they use the mature global 4G LTE footprint and support a broad range of IoT use cases. They are especially relevant for deployments that need mobility, roaming maturity, firmware updates, SMS or voice support, and consistent performance across multiple markets.

LTE-M remains highly relevant for battery-powered and mobile IoT use cases where lower power consumption, moderate data throughput, and LTE-based mobility are important. NB-IoT can be a strong fit for static, low-data devices that need deep indoor coverage and long battery life, but global roaming and operator support should be validated carefully.

5G RedCap is promising for future mid-range IoT use cases, but for large international fleets it remains a longer-term consideration rather than a universal near-term replacement. The 3GPP overview of 5G RedCap explains how RedCap fits into the 5G ecosystem, which is why availability, roaming maturity, and commercial readiness need to be assessed carefully.

Satellite and NTN connectivity can add resilience for remote assets, but should usually be treated as a complementary layer for most terrestrial enterprise fleets rather than the primary connectivity path for most IoT deployments. For a deeper comparison of LTE Cat-1, LTE-M, NB-IoT, 5G RedCap, and NTN, download the 2026 Sunset Strategy Guide.

The safest choice depends on the deployment profile: geography, mobility, power requirements, data volume, firmware update needs, roaming requirements, SMS or voice dependency, and expected device lifetime.

Navigate Network Changes with Telenor IoT

Choosing a replacement for 2G and 3G is not only a radio technology decision. It requires a plan for global roaming, hardware selection, firmware behavior, eSIM strategy, regulatory requirements, and lifecycle management.

Telenor IoT helps enterprises assess their installed base, evaluate connectivity options, and plan migrations that reduce operational risk across global deployments. The priority is the same: keeping connected products reliable throughout their full lifecycle.

Ready to plan your transition? Get in touch with us to discuss how 2G and 3G shutdowns affect your IoT deployment.