Say goodbye to 2G and 3G.
The two generations of telecom networks will gradually disappear in the coming years, after the operator SFR announced on Wednesday the end of its 2G network for 2026, just like Orange which will disconnect 2G at the end of 2025. For 3G, the date chosen is end of 2028 for both operators.
2G was deployed in the early 1990s, followed by 3G ten years later.
Both networks make it possible to make phone calls and send text messages and we owe them the advent of cell phones and mobile communications.
It is the superior innovations offered by 4G and 5G, such as sending photos and videos at high speeds, that today make these networks obsolete.
Unlike the United States, which stopped 2G and 3G in 2022 (even as early as 2017 for some operators), the four networks currently coexist in France and have been added to each other over the years.
99% of French people covered by 4G
Today, 99% of the French population is currently covered by 4G, a little less by 5G.
This should increase further over the next few years, which will make it possible to avoid white areas without any network.
See also4G in the metro: RATP announces that 100% of its network is equipped
In the end, this decision will make it possible to reallocate the 2G-3G frequencies and direct them towards 4G-5G use.
"It's a golden frequency, because it is the one that best penetrates buildings and covers the best," explained Damien Jahan, network marketing director at SFR to our colleagues from Les Echos.
"This will therefore bring more speed, more responsiveness, and better voice quality for current 4G-5G customers," he added.
