2G and 3G Shutdowns Accelerate in 2026: 313 Network Retirements Free Spectrum for 4G and 5G

Telecom operators are accelerating 2G and 3G network shutdowns as they reclaim spectrum, reduce the cost and energy required to maintain legacy networks, and redirect network resources toward 4G, 5G and 5G Standalone. The transition is moving faster for 3G, while IoT devices are making the final retirement of 2G more complicated. 3G vs 2G network shutdowns The global shutdown of 2G and 3G networks is accelerating, but telecom operators are not simply retiring technologies because they are old.