2G network shutdown in Germany: effects on IoT & M2M

The planned shutdown of the 2G network in Germany is an important step towards modernizing the mobile communications infrastructure and providing more capacity for faster technologies such as 4G and 5G. Deutsche Telekom has announced that its 2G network is expected to be completely switched off on 30 June 2028.

The aim of the 2G switch-off is to use the currently blocked frequency spectrum for more powerful mobile services, especially in rural regions that are still heavily reliant on 2G.

The GSM telecommunications network is the second generation of mobile networks and is therefore also referred to as 2G. 2G (GSM) created the basis for digital mobile communications around three decades ago, but is now obsolete. As part of the GSM switch-off, Deutsche Telekom will ensure that all regions that do not yet have sufficient 4G or 5G coverage are upgraded accordingly. This switch enables more efficient use of frequencies and improves network quality and speed.

The imminent shutdown of the 2G network in Germany has far-reaching consequences, especially for industry. While mobile network providers such as Deutsche Telekom want to modernize their network and use the old 2G frequencies for 4G and 5G, the industry is facing challenges and adjustments.

Many industrial applications, especially older machines, still use 2G for communication, particularly in areas such as logistics, the elevator industry, energy supply and healthcare. For example, numerous so-called M2M (machine-to-machine) devices in production and infrastructure companies rely on 2G. The 2G switch-off and switchover to newer technologies such as 4G or 5G means that many companies will have to upgrade their devices and systems. Find out more about Industrial 5G now.

The 2G switch-off and the associated modernization of the systems will entail considerable costs. Companies not only need to invest in new devices
but also in the corresponding network infrastructure and possibly in extensive adaptations to their software and hardware.

In some cases, especially in rural areas where 2G reception has been dominant, companies need to develop a strategy to ensure continued reliable data transmission.

On the positive side, the 2G network shutdown and switchover to 4G and 5G offers enormous opportunities. These technologies enable significantly higher data transfer rates, lower latency times and improved network capacity. Industry can benefit from the introduction of the 5G standard, for example through the development of “smart factories” and the optimization of production in real time. This is particularly important for applications such as autonomous driving, smart grids and high-precision remote maintenance.

The switch to more modern network technologies leads to an improvement in network security. 2G networks are much more susceptible to security vulnerabilities and attacks compared to 4G and 5G.

Therefore, companies can also significantly improve their IT security standards with the GSM switch-off.

The 2G switch-off is a double-edged sword for the industry: it requires investment and modernization of many older systems, but at the same time offers the opportunity to benefit from the advantages of a more advanced infrastructure. The transition requires long-term planning and careful strategic decisions, especially for companies with critical infrastructure. Those who embrace new technologies at an early stage can fully exploit the benefits of fast and secure data transmission in Industry 4.0.

A central use case in this context with the GSM switch-off is the use of Voice over LTE (VoLTE) for voice communication.

VoLTE is a voice transmission service based on 4G LTE technology. This technology enables high-quality voice calls via the LTE network and offers several advantages over conventional 2G and the recently discontinued 3G networks:

• Higher voice quality: VoLTE offers HD voice quality, resulting in clearer and sharper sound.
• Faster connection times: Calls are set up more quickly, which can be particularly crucial in emergency situations.
• Reliability: Using the LTE network for voice communication ensures a stable and reliable connection even after the 2G network has been switched off.

For elevator emergency call manufacturers, this means that they should convert their systems to VoLTE in good time in order to be able to continue to guarantee secure and effective voice communication.

The lead time for switching off the 2G network in Germany could be quite short. While the UMTS network (3G) has already been deactivated in Germany in 2021 in favor of 4G and 5G, the GSM switch-off (2G) in Germany is expected to take place by June 30, 2028 – similar to other countries where 2G has also already been switched off or will soon no longer be available.

Vodafone plans to gradually switch off GSM/2G in Germany by the end of 2030. By that time, the system will have been in use for almost 40 years and many of the original devices will be obsolete and no longer supported by the manufacturers. However, the exact switch-off time may vary slightly internationally.

O2 Telefónica has not yet given a binding date for a 2G switch-off.

According to its own statements, Vodafone will ensure a smooth transition from the 2G network to newer technologies. The majority of customers already use modern devices that are compatible with the more efficient and faster 4G and 5G networks and will hardly notice the GSM switch-off in Germany. In addition, the number of users who have switched to 4G VoLTE is steadily increasing. For some months now, customers who use the 5G core network and have a compatible smartphone have even been able to use 5G telephony (5GNR).

However, according to Vodafone, the date of December 31, 2025 often mentioned in this context for the 2G network shutdown is incorrect, as confirmed by a company spokesperson.

In Germany, the 3G network was deactivated before the 2G network shutdown, while in Switzerland the providers Swisscom and Sunrise have already shut down their 2G network at the end of 2022 . However, a concrete timetable for the switch-off of 3G in Switzerland is still pending.

In the USA, AT&T switched off its 2G network back in 2017 and T-Mobile followed suit at the end of 2021.

The French network operators are planning to switch off the 2G network first by the end of 2026 and then 3G will also be switched off there. Network operator Orange, on the other hand, is planning to switch off the 2G network in France as early as 2025.