2G Switch-Off UK: What Businesses Need to Check

Last checked: 19 October 2026

The UK 2G switch-off starts in 2029: EE says it will begin switching off its 2G network from May 2029, O2 from summer 2029, and Vodafone plans to switch its 2G network off in spring 2030. Every operator has told the UK Government it will not offer 2G or 3G beyond 2033. Modern 4G and 5G phones are not affected, but older phones, alarms, telemetry units, tills and other connected devices that rely only on 2G will stop working on that network.

For most businesses the job is a straightforward audit: find every SIM and connected device, check what network technology it uses, and plan replacements before your network's date. This guide explains the timetable, which devices are at risk and how to check them.

When is the 2G switch-off in the UK?

Each network sets its own date. These are the operators' own published timelines:

The backstop is 2033. Mobile UK, the operators' trade body, says all providers have told the Government they do not plan to offer 2G and 3G services beyond 2033. EE describes 2033 as the date by which all operators are required to switch off 2G "at the latest".

What if my SIMs are not from EE, O2 or Vodafone directly?

Your devices follow the network your SIM actually runs on, not the brand on the bill. Virgin Media O2, for example, says its switch-off will affect O2 Business customers and customers of giffgaff, Tesco Mobile and Sky Mobile. If you buy airtime through a reseller or an equipment supplier, ask them which host network each SIM uses.

Why does 2G still matter now that 3G has gone?

With 3G switched off on every UK network, older devices that cannot use 4G calling or 4G data now often fall back to 2G. Once 2G goes too, they will have nothing to connect to.

EE lists the devices that will lose service when its 2G network closes:

• 2G and 3G-only devices, and 4G devices that do not support 4G Calling (VoLTE);
• older tablets, smartwatches, alarms and IoT devices that only connect to 2G;
• emergency medical alert buttons and similar telecare devices;
• business tills, security systems and telemetry devices that only support 2G or 3G; and
• old physical SIM cards activated before October 2012, and older 2G or 3G price plans.

EE also notes that phones connected to 2G will not receive emergency alerts.

Which business devices are most likely to be affected?

Phones are the easy part. The devices that catch businesses out are the ones nobody thinks of as "mobiles":

Mobile UK gives car parking meters and the emergency call buttons in some car models as examples of 2G-dependent equipment, and says the telecare provider that sold a device is responsible for informing customers and helping with upgrades.

Vodafone says that most IoT and machine-to-machine devices already support 4G, 5G, NB-IoT or LTE-M and should move to those networks if 2G is unavailable, but applications that depend on 2G must be upgraded. It specifically recommends checking security alarms, care alarms and door entry systems.

How do I check whether a device uses 2G?

1. Look at the screen. Vodafone suggests checking whether "2G" appears in the top corner of a phone's screen. If a phone regularly shows 2G, it may be falling back to 2G where 4G is weak or unavailable to it.
2. Check 4G Calling. On a phone, look in the mobile network settings for a 4G Calling or VoLTE option. A phone that only shows 4G for data but cannot make 4G calls is at risk.
3. Check the device specification. For alarms, trackers and terminals, the model's datasheet usually lists the supported technologies (GSM/GPRS means 2G; LTE, LTE-M or NB-IoT are 4G-based).
4. Ask the supplier in writing. EE tells IoT and M2M users to check with their equipment provider, which may not be EE. Ask whether the unit is 4G or 5G compatible and, if not, what the replacement is and what it costs.
5. Check the SIM itself. If a physical SIM was activated before October 2012, EE says it may need replacing.

Operators say they will contact affected customers. EE says it will contact 2G customers by email, letter or phone depending on their preferences, and Virgin Media O2 says it will contact customers well in advance. Do not wait for that letter, though: the operator can see which network a SIM uses, but it cannot always tell you what the SIM is fitted inside.

Worked example: auditing a small business

Imagine a firm with 12 staff, a warehouse and three vans. A simple audit might find:

Most of the list needed no work at all. The two items that did were neither phones nor on the mobile bill, which is why the audit should cover every SIM in the building, not just the ones on your business mobile account.

What should a business do now?

• List every SIM. Include SIMs from your mobile provider, your alarm company, your payment provider and any equipment supplier.
• Record the host network for each one (EE, O2 or Vodafone), because that sets your deadline.
• Prioritise safety and security devices: alarms, lift phones, telecare and lone-worker devices first.
• Replace phones at renewal. If your business mobile contract is due to end before 2029, include 4G Calling support in the handset requirement. Our business mobile end-of-contract guide covers your options at renewal.
• Check coverage at each site. A device that moves from 2G to 4G needs usable 4G where it is installed. See how to check business mobile coverage before switching.
• Keep supplier answers in writing, including the model of any replacement and who pays for it.

Is this the same as the landline switch-off?

No, but the two overlap. The PSTN landline switch-off moves analogue phone lines to digital, and many alarm and lift lines are being moved to cellular units as a result. If a supplier is replacing a landline connection with a SIM, make sure the new unit is 4G or 5G, not 2G. Our PSTN switch-off guide for business covers the landline side.

Frequently asked questions

When does 2G switch off in the UK?

EE begins switching off 2G from May 2029 and O2 begins in summer 2029. Vodafone plans to switch off its 2G network in spring 2030, with a phased approach that means some areas may lose 2G earlier. All operators have committed not to offer 2G or 3G beyond 2033.

Will my business mobile phones stop working?

Not if they support 4G Calling (VoLTE) or 5G and are used where there is 4G or 5G coverage. Vodafone says devices that support 4G or 5G will continue to make calls, send texts and use data. Basic phones and older smartphones without 4G Calling are the ones at risk.

Does Three have a 2G network?

No. Vodafone, which now runs Three as part of VodafoneThree, says Three never had a 2G network, and Three's 3G network was switched off at the end of 2025.

Will my alarm stop working when 2G is switched off?

It might, if its signalling unit only uses 2G. Vodafone recommends checking security alarms, care alarms and door entry systems. Ask your installer or monitoring centre which technology the unit uses and get the answer, and any replacement quote, in writing.

Who pays to replace a 2G device?

That depends on your contract with the equipment supplier. The mobile network provides the connection, not the device. Mobile UK says device owners decide when to upgrade, and that telecare providers are responsible for informing their customers and helping them upgrade.

Will I get notified before 2G is switched off?

Operators say they will contact affected customers. EE says it will contact 2G customers by email, letter or phone, and Virgin Media O2 says it will contact customers well in advance. A notice tells you a SIM is affected; it may not tell you which device the SIM is in, so carry out your own audit.

Sources

• EE Business: We're saying goodbye to 2G
• EE: 2G and 3G switch-off FAQs
• Virgin Media O2: switching off 2G in 2029
• Vodafone: VodafoneThree 2G switch-off
• Vodafone: 3G switch-off completed, February 2024
• Mobile UK: 2G switch-off Q&A

Related guides

• PSTN switch-off for business
• Business mobile contract ending: your options
• Check business mobile coverage before switching
• Android security update expiry for business phones
• Mobile device management for small business
• Switch business mobile provider