The shutdown of the old mobile networks, called 2G and 3G, is in full swing. The reason they are being phased out is that they want to give more frequency space to the newer mobile networks – 4G and 5G – which are faster and to a greater extent meet today’s technology requirements.
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Photo: Jessica Gow/TTElektronik is affected when old mobile networks are phased out
Exactly when the old mobile networks will be completely decommissioned in Sweden is unclear and the timelines for the shutdown vary among the telecom giants.
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Telia has postponed the shutdown of the 2G network until 2027. Photo: Caisa Rasmussen/TT
In any case, it is clear that certain electronics will stop working as they should when the old mobile networks are shut down. For example, some alarms, robotic lawnmowers and mobile phones will be affected.
News24 has previously reported on which mobile phones do not support the newer mobile networks and which will therefore stop working when the 2G and 3G networks are no longer in use.
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Has the 2G and 3G network been shut down abroad?
The decommissioning of the old mobile networks is not only happening in Sweden, but all over the world. Anyone who plans to travel abroad with an older model mobile phone, which only supports 2G and 3G networks, may thus encounter problems.
So what does the timetable look like for other European countries? Nyheter24 asked Tommy Ljunggren who is an expert on the 2G/3G technology shift at the trade and employer organisation TechSweden.
– In general, it can be said that almost all operators in Europe have already closed or will close 3G within the next few years, around 2025, and the operators usually close 3G before 2G.
– Some operators have been very clear and others have not yet told us what they intend to do. Sometimes they give long notice, five years like the Swedish operators, but in some countries they can announce it only six months in advance.
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Photo: Matthias Schrader/AP/TT The expert: “Switzerland stands out”
At Onomondo there is a list of countries and operators and when they are supposed to phase out the 2G and 3G network.
– We have not been able to check all the dates and from experience there are usually small errors in tables like these, for example Telia’s latest extension is not included and Finland’s 2G phase-out is not correct. Unfortunately, we cannot monitor all the dates around the world ourselves and do not have our own list, but we focus on what is happening in Sweden, explains Tommy Ljunggren and continues:
– When it comes to 2G, it is actually Switzerland that stands out where all operators have already closed the networks, but many operators indicate 2025, just like in Sweden, as the date for closing their 2G networks. However, there are several operators in Europe that have already shut down their 2G networks already today but there may still be some operator in the country that has announced a different schedule.
In other words, if you have a mobile phone that only has access to the 2G network, it may be unusable in countries where this network has already been phased out – including Switzerland.
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