3G/UMTS sunset by country: verified timeline

3G is switched off before 2G almost everywhere. The reason is economic: UMTS occupies 2100 MHz spectrum operators need for 5G and is expensive to run per subscriber, while 2G uses little spectrum and carries critical services. This guide covers 53 countries with the source behind every date; in 27 of them 3G is already off across every listed network.

How to read the table

• Off — the network is no longer in service
• Date announced — the operator or regulator has published a firm date
• Planned, no date — there is stated intent but no firm date
• No date — the network is running and there is no public plan

What it means for an IoT device

• A 3G-only module with no 2G fallback stops working on shutdown day. This is the urgent case, because unlike 2G, 3G is already off across most of Europe.
• A 3G module with 2G fallback survives, but inherits that country's 2G date, which in several markets is 2028 or sooner. That is a reprieve, not a fix.
• VoLTE matters for voice. Where 3G goes and the device does not support VoLTE, calls stop working even though data continues.
• LTE-M and NB-IoT are the destination for low-power telemetry; LTE Cat-1 or Cat-4 for higher throughput.

Timeline by country and operator

Method

Every date comes from an operator announcement, a regulator publication or specialist trade press, linked in the row. Comparison tables published by IoT connectivity vendors were excluded because they contradict one another. Last verified 8 August 2026.