The French telecom giant took advantage of the Mobile World Congress currently taking place in Barcelona to formalize the shutdown of the historical 2G and 3G networks in Europe. Orange’s director of technology and innovation has announcement that the 2G network will be shut down in 2025 and the 3G shutdown will follow by 2028.
The end of 2G and 3G
The French incumbent operator therefore plans to gradually close the 2G and 3G networks throughout Europe, wherever Orange is present. The telecom giant outlines its roadmap and explains that the closure of 2G and 3G networks will go more or less quickly depending on the country. The idea is to close the networks that have the least equipment as a priority. For example, the director of technology and innovation of Orange explains that in France, the 2G network will be the first to close (around 2025), because 3G equipment is the most numerous. In other countries like Belgium, it will be the opposite.
The smartphone market reached $450 billion in 2021
These network closures will allow the freed frequencies to switch to 4G and 5G, two newer technologies that are widely used more by smartphone owners than 2G and 3G, which no longer concern many users. It must be said that in France, 4G has been operational for more than 10 years. This technology has been used in our country since 2011. 5G is much newer. The first installations date back to 2020, but it is starting to become more democratic and according to the ANFR, the consolidation of the network continues in France.
What will this change?
Orange is not the only operator to close its old frequencies. In the United States, AT&T recently shut down its 3G network in favor of 4G and 5G. T-Mobile and Verizon are expected to follow later this year. However, this decision taken by the operators not everyone likes. Some believe that several devices may no longer work. In particular, there is strong concern in the alarm industry. An industry group estimates that two million devices are at risk of failing. The School Superintendents Association estimates that 10% of public school buses in the United States will lose their GPS and their communication system.
On the side of smartphone owners, no worries. Even at Apple, which has the longest software tracker on its devices, updates are only offered between 5 and 6 years. Almost all smartphones sold in 2022 are 5G compatible. This is among professionals that the pill may be more difficult to swallow. Some will have to change heavy equipment, such as elevators or parking meters that still work in 2G or 3G. The industries that fear for their activities are: health, surveillance and industrial connected objects. This announcement made well in advance of the dismantling of the 2G and 3G networks is therefore a signal for the industries concerned.