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IoT Knowledge Base
Learn the key concepts you need to know. Without the technical jargon.
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IoT Reports & Guides
In-depth research, white-papers and guides from Pelion.
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Blog Articles & News
The latest insights on industry trends, best practices, and Pelion announcements.
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Our mission, values, team, and the solutions we offer in the IoT space.
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The Team
Meet our team behind Pelion's effortless connectivity.
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2G and 3G Network Sunsets
Navigate the
network sunsets
Stay ahead of network sunsetting, avoid disruptions to your business and IoT connectivity as a result of 2G and 3G global network shutdowns.
What is a
network sunset?
A network sunset occurs when a Mobile Network Operator (MNO) gradually phases out and shuts down older network technologies, such as 2G and 3G. This transition allows for the adoption of newer, more advanced mobile technologies, like 4G and 5G, to meet growing demands.
Make room for 4G and 5G networks
Around the globe today, MNOs have plans or have completed 2G and 3G network sunsets to make room for 4G and 5G networks. With these network sunset plans in motion, it is critical for you to understand if and when your IoT solution and devices may be impacted.
Being unprepared for a network sunset can seriously impact your business operations, costing you time, money, and reputational damage.
What do I need to do?
First things first, you need a plan. To understand the key details about your IoT solution, ask yourself:
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Is your IoT device compatible with next-generation network technology?
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What are the volume and regions of your deployed base, and what is your ability to access these devices?
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Does the entire device or just the cellular module needs replaced?
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Does it require a future-proofed eUICC IoT SIM or traditional IoT SIM?
The Pelion process
We’ve advised organisations across the world and across countless industries through 2G and 3G network sunsets. When it comes to designing your strategy to minimize disruption, ensure your business continues to run smoothly and securely – we have you covered with a simple 3 step process:
Discovery call
Your business is unique, and we’re here to help. Our experts guide you through a thorough discovery process to fully understand your specific needs.
Solution specification
From here, our team gets to work designing a network sunset migration strategy with a next-generation solution that gets your effortlessly moved and connected.
Field testing
Finally, we work with you to field test your devices to ensure the new connectivity solution meets your needs. From there you are ready to migrate your IoT safely and securely.
The latest known dates for 2G and 3G networking sunsets across the globe
We keep this list updated with information directly from our MNO partners. Dates are subject to change.
Network Sunset FAQs
Get the answers to your most pressing questions about the 2G/3G sunset - and what it means for your IoT connectivity.
For many MNOs, the closure of 2G and 3G services is part of an ongoing network evolution strategy. This is happening industry wide and is a decision that is made outside of MNVOs, such as Pelion.
For any devices affected by network 2G/3G shutdowns, if your devices are set up to do so, they should automatically:
Failover to another network using 2G or 3G
Look for a different radio type on O2 such as 4G
However, this depends on your setup and if your devices are unable to carry out either of the above options, they may experience service degradation or complete loss of connectivity when roaming via affected networks.
Where possible, we highly recommend that you update your devices to connect to only 4G or 5G. However, we fully recognise that for many device types this involves a hardware refresh. If you need support, please contact our Support team, who can help you in this process.
If you’re looking to futureproof your devices against upcoming shutdowns, we can help you by:
Advising on optimal fallback network setups
Providing timeline planning assistance to help you phase your upgrades before critical coverage drops
Navigate network sunset
with ease & confidence
Migrating networks can take time so it’s never too soon to get in touch and kick off discussions to let Pelion get to work on your network sunset migration strategy.
Learn More
Explore our latest
blog posts
July 15, 2025 — 3 min read
Multi-IMSI or eUICC? How to Pick the Best Fit for Your IoT Deployment
July 11, 2025 — 3 min read
How OpenVPN Powers Secure and Scalable IoT Networks
July 07, 2025 — 4 min read