When is 2G being switched off in Austria?

A1 Telekom Austria has announced its shutdown for May 2028. Magenta Telekom plans 2030 at the earliest, Drei has not communicated a date yet.

Are Rosenberger customers in Germany immediately affected?

Not immediately. Via national roaming, Rosenberger devices use all three German networks, so losing a single network doesn't cut them off. But all three switch off by the end of 2028: Telekom in June, Vodafone in September, O2 Telefónica by the end of 2028. Plan to replace pure 2G devices by 2027.

What happens to my telematics device after the shutdown?

Devices with a pure 2G modem lose their connection entirely: no GPS data, no status updates. The Commander dashboard goes dark for every affected device.

Why is 2G being switched off at all?

Operators need the GSM frequency bands (900/1800 MHz) to expand 4G and 5G. 2G tops out at 114 kbit/s, not enough bandwidth for modern IoT requirements.

Does the shutdown affect elevators and alarm systems too?

Yes, and it's especially critical for elevator emergency phones: under German operational safety regulation, a system has to be taken out of service if its emergency connection fails. GSM-based alarm systems need to migrate to IP or 4G.

2G Network Shutdown in Austria & Europe

2028 2G shutdown AT (A1) and DE (Telekom)
~2030 Magenta (AT) and other operators
2021 Switzerland fully switched off
4G/LTE your solution, available today

Overview

What the 2G shutdown means, and whether it affects you.

GSM has carried mobile communication since the early 1990s. Many telematics devices, alarm systems, smart meters, and IoT systems still run on it today. Once a network operator switches off its 2G network, those devices lose their connection, with no exception and no grace period.

Austria: A1 has announced its 2G shutdown for May 2028, the first Austrian operator with a firm date. Magenta plans 2030 at the earliest, Drei has not named a date yet. Check your device inventory now, regardless of which operator you use.

As of September 2026. Sources: A1, RTR, Bundesnetzagentur, Magenta Telekom, Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone. Operators can change dates on short notice.

Europe overview

2G shutdown dates across Europe, by country.

The shutdown isn't happening everywhere at once. Current dates by country and operator, with a focus on the markets that matter most to Rosenberger customers.

Austria

From May 2028

A1 Telekom AustriaMay 2028

Magenta Telekom2030 at the earliest

DreiNo date

Germany

From June 2028

Deutsche Telekom30 June 2028

VodafoneEnd of September 2028

O2 TelefónicaEnd of 2028

Switzerland

Switched off

Swisscom, Sunrise, SaltApril 2021

Pioneer country: around 100,000 elevator emergency-call systems migrated successfully.

Sweden

Since December 2025

Tele2Switched off (1 Dec 2025)

TelenorSwitched off (1 Dec 2025)

TeliaBy 2027

France

From 2026

OrangeMarch to end of 2026

SFRBy end of 2026

Bouygues TelecomBy end of 2026

Free MobileNo date

Netherlands

From 2027

Odido (T-Mobile)Switched off

KPNBy 1 December 2027

Vodafone ZiggoAt least until end of 2026

Czech Republic

At least until mid-2028

O2, T-Mobile, VodafoneAt least until 30 June 2028

Regulatory obligation to keep operating, not a shutdown date.

Belgium

End of 2027 at the earliest

Telenet/BaseAt least until end of 2027

OrangeAt least until end of 2028

ProximusAt least until end of 2029

Spain

By 2030

Orange2030 at the latest

Telefónica2026 to 2030

VodafoneNo shutdown planned

Poland

By 2030

Orange2030 at the latest

Play, Plus, T-MobileNot before 2030

United Kingdom

From 2029

EEFrom May 2029

VMO2From summer 2029

Vodafone2033 at the latest

Italy

No date

TIM, Vodafone, Wind TreCurrently no plans

Sources: LiftJournal country table (German, as of 10 August 2026), Bundesnetzagentur, A1, each retrieved 3 September 2026. All figures without guarantee, operators can change dates on short notice.

DACH in detail

Austria, Germany, and Switzerland compared.

Austria

2G shutdown from May 2028

3G already switched off

Magenta 2024, Drei and A1 2025. According to RTR, no 3G network has been operating since mid-2025.

2G roadmap

A1: May 2028 announced. Magenta: active until at least 2030. Drei: no date yet.

The regulator's view

RTR considers first 2G shutdowns possible from 2028 and advises checking 4G/5G capability when buying new devices.

Recommendation

Check your device inventory now. The lead time is your advantage.

Sources: RTR, A1, LiftJournal (German), retrieved 3 September 2026

Germany

2G shutdown from June 2028

3G already switched off

Deutsche Telekom, Vodafone, and O2 retired 3G in 2021.

2G roadmap

Deutsche Telekom: 30 June 2028. Vodafone: end of September 2028, IoT exceptions until end of 2030. O2 Telefónica: end of 2028.

National roaming

Rosenberger devices use all three networks. That buys time until the last shutdown at the end of 2028, but it doesn't replace the upgrade.

Recommendation

Replace devices with a pure 2G modem by 2027 at the latest, within your regular service cycle rather than under time pressure.

Source: Bundesnetzagentur (German), retrieved 3 September 2026

Switzerland

2G switched off since 2021

3G still winding down

Sunrise mid-2025, Swisscom 2026, Salt at least until end of 2026.

2G already switched off

Swisscom in April 2021, Sunrise and Salt switched off as well.

Pioneer country

Around 100,000 elevator emergency-call systems migrated successfully.

The lesson

With enough lead time, the switch happens without disrupting operations.

Source: LiftJournal (German), retrieved 3 September 2026

Ready for 4G? We'll guide you there.

Start with a free consultation now and secure your fleet and machinery connectivity for the long term.

See 4G hardware

Risks

What happens if you do nothing?

Device goes dark

No tracking, no data, no proof of location. Your vehicles and machines become invisible, without warning.

Tachograph data gap

Missing driving- and rest-time records lead to fines and problems at inspection. Compliance gaps are documented, not hypothetical.

Insurance and liability risk

Missing telematics documentation after an accident or damage weakens your position with insurers and authorities.

Operational blind spots

No utilization overview, no route optimization, no real-time data. Decisions rest on guesswork instead of facts.

Affected systems

What's affected?

It's not just old phones. Many professional systems still communicate over 2G/GSM. Check whether your operation is affected.

Critical

Telematics devices & trackers

Older trackers with a pure 2G modem lose their connection completely. Real-time data stops coming in.

Affected

Machinery & containers

Asset tracking on job sites: older GPS trackers with a 2G fallback are affected.

Critical

GSM-based alarm systems

GSM-based alarm systems can no longer send alerts once the network is switched off.

Critical

Elevator emergency phones

Around half of all elevator emergency-call units in Germany run over 2G. Without an upgrade, the elevator has to be taken out of service.

Affected

Smart & utility meters

Electricity, gas, and water meters with an M2M GSM module need to move to LTE-M or 4G.

Affected

Fuel dispensers & payment terminals

Older payment terminals with a GSM module lose their data connection.

Affected

Remote control & SCADA systems

Industrial control systems running over GPRS risk losing their connection.

Low

Senior & emergency phones

Old mobile phones without 4G support will no longer connect once the network is switched off.

How to proceed

Step by step: moving your telematics to 4G/LTE.

With the right planning, the switch is straightforward. Rosenberger Telematics guides you through the whole process.

Take stock
Check every telematics device for its installed module. Pure 2G modules without an LTE fallback are affected.
Get advice
Rosenberger Telematics analyzes which devices can be updated and which need to be replaced.
Choose your hardware
Our full hardware line-up is already LTE-compatible and ready to deploy.
Check software & firmware
Some devices need a firmware update. Check SIM cards for LTE compatibility too.
Roll out in stages
Critical systems first, staged by region and use case, to avoid bottlenecks.
Set up monitoring
Spot connection drop-outs early through Commander and act before they become a problem.

See 4G hardware

FAQ

Frequently asked questions about the 2G shutdown.

When is 2G being switched off in Austria?

A1 Telekom Austria has announced its shutdown for May 2028. Magenta Telekom plans 2030 at the earliest, Drei has not communicated a date yet.
Are Rosenberger customers in Germany immediately affected?

Not immediately. Via national roaming, Rosenberger devices use all three German networks, so losing a single network doesn't cut them off. But all three switch off by the end of 2028: Telekom in June, Vodafone in September, O2 Telefónica by the end of 2028. Plan to replace pure 2G devices by 2027.
What happens to my telematics device after the shutdown?

Devices with a pure 2G modem lose their connection entirely: no GPS data, no status updates. The Commander dashboard goes dark for every affected device.
Why is 2G being switched off at all?

Operators need the GSM frequency bands (900/1800 MHz) to expand 4G and 5G. 2G tops out at 114 kbit/s, not enough bandwidth for modern IoT requirements.
Does the shutdown affect elevators and alarm systems too?

Yes, and it's especially critical for elevator emergency phones: under German operational safety regulation, a system has to be taken out of service if its emergency connection fails. GSM-based alarm systems need to migrate to IP or 4G.

Ready for 4G? We'll guide you there.

Start with a free consultation and secure your fleet and machinery connectivity for the long term.

See 4G hardware Get in touch

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