Orange has phased out its 2G network across France, with a nationwide shutdown.
The shutdown began in nine departments in southwestern France, including Haute-Garonne, Landes, Gers and Pyrénées-Atlantiques, before expanding to the rest of the country.
The move follows Orange’s 2022 announcement that it would gradually retire older mobile technologies rather than continue operating multiple generations of networks alongside one another.
For businesses still using 2G-connected equipment, including older machine-to-machine (M2M) devices, payment terminals and tracking systems, the shutdown means they will need to ensure their devices can operate on newer networks to avoid service disruptions.
The telecom giant also plans to shut down its 3G network in 2028, marking another step in its wider transition to 4G and 5G connectivity.
The company said: “It is important to note that French operators (or operators operating in mainland France) are responsible for notifying their own customers: of the shutdown of the 2G/3G networks of their hosts operators and of the consequences this may have for those customers.”
