(MENAFN) Countries worldwide are rapidly dismantling legacy mobile networks, with many carriers already terminating 3G and targeting 2G phaseouts within the next decade. Meanwhile, 4G remains in service as a transitional technology to 5G.

The United States completed its nationwide 3G shutdown in 2022, and leading carriers aim to retire 2G by 2025 to free up spectrum for faster connectivity. Canada is currently decommissioning 2G and plans to close 3G by late 2025.

Across Europe, timelines vary but trends align. The United Kingdom intends to switch off both 2G and 3G by 2033 to fully commit to 5G infrastructure. Germany, one of Europe’s largest mobile markets, ended 3G in 2021 and plans to discontinue 2G by 2028. Its extensive 2G network, favored for broad coverage and low energy use, explains the later shutdown compared to 3G. France will maintain 2G until the end of 2026 and 3G until the close of 2029.

Several other European nations—including Czechia, Denmark, the Netherlands, Italy, Greece, and Hungary—have already deactivated significant portions of their 3G networks, with most aiming to fully retire 2G by 2030.

In Japan, a pioneer in mobile tech, 2G was phased out by 2012, and the country is now winding down 3G, with some carriers expected to end 3G coverage by late 2026. The world’s largest mobile market, China, is methodically retiring 2G and 3G networks, which now represent less than 1% of subscribers.

Türkiye reported 95.2 million mobile subscribers in March, according to the Information and Communications Technologies Authority. Among them, 88.1 million use 4.5G, while 3G accounts for 4.5 million users and 2G for 2.3 million. The country plans to launch 5G on April 1, 2026. Mobile carriers in Türkiye were initially granted a 25-year 2G concession, extended to April 2029. The 20-year 3G concession introduced in 2009, as well as the 14-year 4.5G concession granted in 2015, will also expire in April 2029.

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