Orange completes nationwide 2G retirement in France
Orange has completed a countrywide 2G shutdown in France, starting in nine southwestern departments before covering the rest. Businesses using older M2M, payment and tracking devices must move to newer networks to avoid disruption. Orange intends to close 3G in 2028 as it shifts customers to 4G and 5G.
Orange has now turned off 2G throughout France after first withdrawing it from nine southwestern departments, among them Haute-Garonne, Landes, Gers and Pyrénées-Atlantiques. The operator had said in 2022 that it would retire older mobile generations step by step instead of running several networks side by side.
The closure affects organizations whose equipment depends on 2G for machine-to-machine communication, card payment and location tracking; such users must verify compatibility with newer networks. Orange also plans to end 3G service in 2028, and it notes that French operators must inform their own customers about host-network shutdowns and any consequences.
The shutdown could affect businesses and customers that still depend on aging 2G equipment, potentially requiring upgrades and causing temporary disruption where replacements are not ready. Some users may face costs or service gaps, while others could gain from operators concentrating investment on 4G and 5G. The planned 3G closure in 2028 may create similar pressure, making early planning important for affected organizations.