T-Mobile has announced that it will completely switch off its 2G network on June 1st this year. For consumers, the company recommends switching to 3G, 4G, or 5G whenever possible. However, not all equipment is capable of making this switch. For example, some sensors for automating traffic and energy consumption only work on 2G technology, and these types of IoT (Internet of Things) devices must therefore be replaced. Not all providers will immediately stop using 2G, but the end is in sight; for example, KPN will permanently stop using 2G after May 2025.
The reason for having to shut down 2G can be found in the limited number of frequencies. The introduction of newer communication technologies will eventually make it impossible for providers to continue to support them all. For example, T-Mobile’s 2G connection is in the waters of 3G and 4G, which will remain in the air for even longer. Grid operator Enexis told Tweakers that it still has 1.1 million smart meters connected to 2G, and that network would remain in the air until 2030. Newer devices are now using 4G connectivity.
The phasing out of 2G and 3G access has been going on for some time. For example, last year Dutch providers stopped supporting older connections in the event of failures on 4G and 5G networks. These companies were able to avoid the maintenance costs of maintaining the older networks. A remaining solution for failures is the dual SIM method, which involves communication with a second network connection to bridge failures.
