When is 2G switching off in the UK?
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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| EE | Own masts | OnSwitch-off planned: from May 2029 Source | OffSwitched off: by February 2024 Source |
| O2 | Own masts | OnSwitch-off planned: summer 2029That's when the switch-off starts. Source | OffSwitched off: end of 2025 Source |
| Three | Own masts | Never had it Source | OffSwitched off: by November 2025 Source |
| Vodafone | Own masts | OnSwitch-off planned: spring 2030Switched off in phases, so some areas may lose 2G earlier. Source | OffSwitched off: by February 2024 Source |
| 1pMobile | EE | OnSame as EE | OffSame as EE |
| Asda Mobile | Vodafone | OnSame as Vodafone | OffSame as Vodafone |
| giffgaff | O2 | OnSame as O2 | OffSame as O2 |
| iD Mobile | Three | Never had itSame as Three | OffSame as Three |
| Lebara | Vodafone | OnSame as Vodafone | OffSame as Vodafone |
| Lyca Mobile | EE | OnSame as EE | OffSame as EE |
| Sky Mobile | O2 | OnSame as O2 | OffSame as O2 |
| SMARTY | Three | Never had itSame as Three | OffSame as Three |
| Talkmobile | Vodafone | OnSame as Vodafone | OffSame as Vodafone |
| Tesco Mobile | O2 | OnSame as O2 | OffSame as O2 |
| VOXI | Vodafone | OnSame as Vodafone | OffSame as Vodafone |
“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, none of the 8 basic phones sold in the UK 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: EE, O2, Three, Vodafone. All networks
Last updated 22 October 2026. How we check