When are 2G and 3G switching off in Canada?
Basic phones and flip phones make calls over 2G, 3G or 4G calling (VoLTE). Here's when each network switches 2G and 3G off, and what that means for your phone.
As of 22 October 2026
Every network
Smaller networks use a big network's masts, so they have its 2G and 3G and its dates.
| Network | Uses | 2G | 3G |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bell | Own masts | Never had itIts older network was CDMA, shut down by April 2018. Source | Switching offSwitch-off planned: 1 March 2027Already off in Manitoba since 31 December 2025. Source |
| Freedom Mobile | Own masts | Never had it Source | Switching offSwitch-off date: not confirmedRegion by region: Manitoba is done, Peterborough from 17 October 2026, Ottawa-Gatineau and Quebec on 3 November 2026. Freedom gives no date for the rest, only that most carriers expect to close 3G by 1 March 2027. Source |
| Rogers | Own masts | OnSwitch-off planned: 30 November 2027Rogers already charges customers still using 2G, so we don't count it as a way to make calls. Source | Switching offSwitch-off planned: from 7 August 2025Region by region. Rogers hasn't said when it finished. Source |
| Telus | Own masts | Never had itIts older network was CDMA, shut down in 2017. Source | Switching offSwitch-off planned: 1 March 2027Already off in Manitoba since 14 April 2026. Source |
| Chatr | Rogers | OnSame as Rogers | Switching offSame as Rogers |
| Fido | Rogers | OnSame as Rogers | Switching offSame as Rogers |
| Koodo | Telus | Never had itSame as Telus | Switching offSame as Telus |
| Lucky Mobile | Bell | Never had itSame as Bell | Switching offSame as Bell |
| Public Mobile | Telus | Never had itSame as Telus | Switching offSame as Telus |
| Virgin Plus | Bell | Never had itSame as Bell | Switching offSame as Bell |
“Not confirmed” means the network hasn't announced a date we could find, or we couldn't confirm it. We don't estimate dates.
What it means for a basic phone
- While a network still runs 2G, almost any basic phone can make calls on it.
- After 2G and 3G are gone, a phone can only make calls with 4G calling (VoLTE). The phone has to support it, and the network has to turn it on for that phone. Many networks only do that for phones they've approved.
- A phone without 4G calling may still show signal and use 4G data, but it can't make or take calls.
- A phone we've confirmed makes 4G calls on your network isn't affected by either switch-off.
As of 24 Oct 2026, 1 of the 8 basic phones sold in Canada is confirmed to make 4G calls on all 4 big networks.
See which phones make 4G calls on each network
Each network's page lists the phones we've confirmed on it: Bell, Freedom Mobile, Rogers, Telus. All networks
Last updated 22 October 2026. How we check