End of 2G and 3G: millions of SIM cards must upgrade to 4G to stay connected to the network

After revealing to us the evolution of optical fiber coverage in France, with still millions of premises not connectedArcep is making a comeback to talk to us about the telephone network. In our sights: 2G and 3G, technologies from another era which must make their transition quickly. Millions of SIM cards are in fact still active, although they will be disconnected in the years to come.

5.6 million 2G and 3G SIM cards still connected in France

Although 4G and 5G have become the norm in France, many people and devices are still stuck in the 2G and 3G era. Arcep also took stock of the situation in a new report published at the end of last week.

Inside, the authority in charge of telecommunications takes stock of the devices still connected to these networks. “The total number of SIM cards in terminals compatible only with 2G and 3G/2G is 5.6 million at the end of September 2025”we can read.

In detail, Arcep explains that 2.6 million of them are used to “voice/SMS/mobile internet services”while the remaining 3 million are for Machine to Machine (MtoM). This second category concerns, for example, electricity meters, alarm systems, payment terminals or even parking meters.

The time has therefore come for a transition to prevent some everyday devices, in addition to telephones, from becoming obsolete when 2G and 3G networks will be disconnected — respectively at the end of 2026 and at the end of 2028/2029 depending on the operators.

The good news is that the transition to 4G and 5G is already underway. According to Arcep figures, a drop of 4% in 2G SIM cards for voice/SMS/mobile internet services and a little over 10% for MtoM services was recorded between June and September 2025.

Proof that customers are initiating the transition, although there is still a long way to go to say goodbye to the 5.6 million SIM cards still connected to the network.