Drei, Austria: 2G and 3G shutdown dates
Updated
Drei has announced no date to switch off 2G and switched off 3G in 2025, according to the sources we checked on 26 October 2026. The table gives each source and how far we trust it; the rest of the page says what this means for IoT devices in Austria.
2G and 3G status at Drei
| Network | Status | Date | Confidence | Sources and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2G | No plan announced | none | low | drei.at, korewireless.com No end date announced. The operator presents 2G as the fallback layer for older devices; Kore lists no specific 2G planning. The regulator RTR says the first Austrian 2G shutdowns could come from 2028, without naming operators. |
| 3G | Switched off | 2025 | medium | drei.at, rtr.at Gradual regional switch-off from Q1 2024; RTR confirms all Austrian operators had switched off 3G by mid-2025. Exact completion date for Drei not found. emnify lists 31 Mar 2025; RTR says all 3G was off by mid-2025. |
Confidence is high when the operator or the regulator states the date, medium when several independent sources agree, low otherwise. We recheck every month.
What it means for IoT devices on Drei
- 2G keeps running for now. Drei has announced no closing date, so 2G fallback still helps devices that roam in Austria, but new designs should not depend on it.
- 3G fallback no longer works on Drei. Devices built for 3G (UMTS) or that fall back to it lose service; 4G devices with 2G fallback are not affected by this closure.
- For new devices, choose 4G-based technologies: LTE Cat-1 bis, LTE-M or NB-IoT where the network offers them.
- Foreign SIMs in Austria: permanent roaming is governed by the EU roaming regulation, which generally allows it under wholesale agreements between operators. Details on the Austria page.
An M2M.global IoT SIM is not tied to a single network in a country, and its data can reach your cloud without the internet through private delivery.
Other operators in Austria
| Operator | 2G | 3G |
|---|---|---|
| A1 | Planned, 31 May 2028 | Switched off, 3 June 2025 |
| Magenta Telekom | No plan announced | Switched off, 2024 |
All operators and both rules for Austria: IoT connectivity in Austria. Every country: 2G and 3G shutdown dates by country and operator.
Frequently asked questions
When does Drei switch off 2G in Austria?
Drei has announced no date to switch off 2G, as of 26 October 2026. No end date announced. The operator presents 2G as the fallback layer for older devices; Kore lists no specific 2G planning. The regulator RTR says the first Austrian 2G shutdowns could come from 2028, without naming operators.
When did Drei switch off 3G in Austria?
Drei switched off its 3G network in 2025. Gradual regional switch-off from Q1 2024; RTR confirms all Austrian operators had switched off 3G by mid-2025. Exact completion date for Drei not found. emnify lists 31 Mar 2025; RTR says all 3G was off by mid-2025.