Over the decades, Orange has developed an extensive, high-performance mobile network to meet growing digital needs, with 2G, 3G, then 4G and 5G.
In 2022, Orange announced its intention to end this stacking of technologies, and to give priority only to the most recent.
Over the next few years, 2G and 3G will give way to 4G and 5G.
That’s why, from December 31, 2025, Orange will begin preparatory actions for the shutdown of its 2G technology:
- initially in a pilot zone including 9 departments in the South-West (dpt 09, 31, 32, 40, 46, 47, 64, 65, 82). In Ariège, Haute-Garonne, Gers, Landes, Lot, Lot-et-Garonne, Pyrénées-Atlantiques, Hautes-Pyrénées and Tarn-et-Garonne, 2G will be definitively discontinued on March 9, 2026,
- in a 2nd phase, for the rest of mainland France, where 2G will be discontinued from the end of September 2026.
By the end of December 2026, 2G technology should have completely disappeared from the Orange mobile network in mainland France.
3G technology is scheduled to switch off from the end of 2028.
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.