Better network coverage planned for rural areas
Telekom AG, a German telecommunications company that is one of the largest in the world, plans to completely shut down its 2G network (GSM) on June 30, 2028. This means that old cell phones without newer standards such as 4G and 5G will no longer be usable.
By switching off the outdated network, Telekom intends to use the frequencies freed up in the 900 MHz band for 4G and 5G networks in order to improve network coverage , particularly in rural areas. This will enable faster data transmission in areas where only 2G telephony was previously possible.
Deutsche Telekom customers do not need a new cell phone if their device already supports 4G or 5G. Only older models without these standards will no longer work from 2028 and will need to be replaced.
Different plans of the network operators
Other German network operators such as Vodafone and Telefónica O2 reportedly have different plans. Vodafone intends to gradually dismantle the 2G network by the end of 2030, while Telefónica O2 currently has no plans to shut it down.
Other affected devices
In addition to telephony, the shutdown of the GSM network also affects many IoT (Internet of Things) services, such as networked electricity meters and alarm systems, which are currently still based on 2G.
To ensure the operation of these devices, Deutsche Telekom recommends that providers and users plan the replacement of outdated radio modules now. According to information from Deutsche Telekom, a cost-effective replacement can be realized through early planning, especially for devices with long service cycles.