Mobile communications: Deutsche Telekom will shut down its GSM network in 2028

Deutsche Telekom will probably shut down its GSM network completely by June 30, 2028. The company announced this in Bonn on Tuesday. This is the first time a German network operator has given a specific date for the shutdown of its GSM network (2G). Vodafone and Telefónica are taking more time.

The GSM networks are still used for calls with simple cell phones, short messages and the Internet of Things (IoT). The technology is outdated and is about to be switched off in many countries. With modern smartphones, calls can also be made via the newer and more efficient 4G and 5G mobile communications standards.

Frequencies free for 4G and 5G

"We can further improve our network with the freed-up 2G frequency spectrum," says Abdu Mudesir, Managing Director Technology at Telekom Deutschland. "We will use the frequencies in our network for 4G and 5G in the future to make mobile surfing even better, especially in rural areas."

Vodafone is taking more time to phase out GSM and plans to gradually switch off the available network capacities for 2G in Germany, probably by the end of 2030. "By then, the technology will be almost 40 years old and a large proportion of the underlying devices will have become obsolete by then and will no longer be supported by the providers," said Head of Technology Tanja Richter.

Telefónica (O2), on the other hand, will continue to operate 2G for now and has not yet specified a switch-off date. In the O2 network, GSM will remain the basis for telephony and SMS for the time being. In the event of any changes, customers will be "informed in good time in advance and in accordance with their contract", said a Telefónica spokesperson. The company did not specify a date, but generally recommends "switching to future-proof devices with 4G and 5G."

Converting networked devices

The GSM standard (Global System for Mobile Communications) developed in Europe replaced analog mobile networks in the 1990s. UMTS (3G), which was introduced afterward, was switched off in Germany at the end of 2021. In the meantime, "Voice over LTE" (VoLTE) and "Voice over New Radio" (VoNR) allow better quality calls to be made via 4G and 5G.

Other countries in Europe are also switching off their GSM networks, but at different speeds. Switzerland has already said goodbye to GSM in 2023, but is sticking with UMTS until 2025. In France, Orange will end GSM in 2025 and UMTS in 2030. Sweden plans to say goodbye to 2G by 2026, while the UK will do so by 2033. In Austria, 3G will be switched off while 2G continues.

GSM shutdowns will not only affect owners of old single cell phones that only work on the GSM network. These devices will no longer work on the Telekom network from summer 2028; smartphones or LTE single-cell phones will have to be switched over. Various IoT services are also affected by the shutdown. These include networked electricity meters, elevators and alarm systems. Deutsche Telekom recommends that providers and users prepare to replace the remaining old radio modules.

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