2G Network Shutdown in Europe

The switch has already begun

Switzerland completed its 2G shutdown in early 2023. France follows by end of 2026. Germany, Austria, and the Netherlands are all moving to phase-out by 2027–2030. If your fleet relies on 2G-connected telematics devices, the clock is running.

Any device still on 2G will lose connectivity when its carrier shuts down, creating information gaps in live tracking, tachograph downloads, and alarm management. The risks are operational, not theoretical.

Country-by-country shutdown dates

Austria

• A1 Telekom: 31 May 2028
• Magenta Telekom: 2030 at the earliest
• Drei: No announcement yet

Germany

• Deutsche Telekom: 30 June 2028
• Vodafone: Gradual phase-out by end of 2030
• O2 Telefónica: No date announced; retaining 2G for now

Other European markets

• Switzerland: Already switched off (early 2023)
• France: End of 2026
• Norway: From 2026
• Sweden: End of 2027
• Netherlands: End of 2027
• Belgium: End of 2030
• Slovakia: End of 2030
• United Kingdom: End of 2033
• Italy: No shutdown planned currently

What this means for your fleet

Telematics hardware on 2G collects live data from vehicles and machines. The moment the carrier switches off, that data stops flowing. No live positions. No automated tachograph downloads. No geofence alerts. Commander’s dashboards go dark for every affected device.

The migration window looks comfortable today. In practice, large fleets take 12–18 months to audit, procure, and replace hardware at scale. Begin the assessment now, before the deadlines force a rushed, costly changeover.

Three steps to a clean migration

1. Inventory your 2G devices. Document every module, the vehicle or machine it is fitted to, and the carrier network it operates on. This is the prerequisite for everything else.
2. Evaluate your 4G options. Compare replacement hardware from your telematics provider. Where applicable, explore OEM interfaces: manufacturer APIs can feed data directly into Commander without any physical device, eliminating installation entirely.
3. Plan a staged replacement. Prioritise vehicles operating in countries with earlier shutdown dates. Schedule hardware swaps during routine service visits to avoid dedicated workshop downtime.

4G: not just a replacement, an upgrade

The move to 4G is not a like-for-like swap. Fourth-generation modules deliver higher data transfer rates, better coverage in rural and underground environments, and significantly improved robustness, critical for logistics and construction applications that demand real-time data continuity. New-generation hardware also supports beacon reading for proximity-based asset detection.

For fleets connected via OEM APIs, the network generation is irrelevant. Manufacturer data flows into Commander regardless of physical hardware. This is worth exploring for any modern vehicle already transmitting telemetry from the factory.