IoT connectivity in Belgium
Updated
In Belgium, permanent roaming of foreign IoT SIMs is not allowed. Of the 3 mobile operators we track there, 0 have switched off 2G and 3 3G, as of 26 October 2026. Sources are listed below each table.
Permanent roaming
Not allowed. A regulatory survey reports that Belgium generally prohibits permanent roaming, with exceptions such as eCall and certain nomadic services authorised by the minister, making it the most restrictive European country.
Sources: cullen-international.com. Confidence: low.
2G and 3G shutdowns by operator
| Operator | Network | Status | Date | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| BASE (Telenet) | 2G | Planned | none | press.telenet.be, bipt.be No exact date. Telenet/BASE said in 2022 that 2G would be supported until at least 2027; BIPT (Aug 2026) says the operators plan to start 2G shutdowns between 2028 and 2029, dates to come. |
| BASE (Telenet) | 3G | Switched off | 2025 | selectra.be, press.telenet.be Announced for September 2024. Selectra's text says Telenet/BASE followed Proximus during 2025 (its table still says Sep 2024); no 3G network active in Belgium since summer 2025. Exact completion month not found. |
| Orange Belgium | 2G | Planned | 31 December 2028 | business.orange.be, bipt.be Orange: 2G active up to and including 31 Dec 2028, full deactivation by end-2028. Older group plan said by 2030. BIPT gives a 2028-2029 window for all operators. |
| Orange Belgium | 3G | Switched off | 2025 | business.orange.be, selectra.be Orange says it shut down its 3G network in mid-2025 (region-by-region phase-out). |
| Proximus | 2G | Planned | 2029 | proximus.be, bipt.be Proximus: 2G voice supported until mid-2029; network stays active for business fallback devices until end of 2029. Earlier commitment was at least end-2027. BIPT: Belgian operators plan to start 2G shutdowns in 2028-2029, exact dates to be announced later. |
| Proximus | 3G | Switched off | 2025 | proximus.be, selectra.be Announced in 2022 for end-2024; Selectra says switched off at end of 2024, Proximus' own page says 3G has been off since 2025. Selectra: no 3G network active in Belgium since summer 2025. |
What it means for IoT devices in Belgium
- 2G still runs on some networks, but plan new devices on 4G-based technologies (LTE Cat-1bis, LTE-M or NB-IoT where available): 2G is being closed across the region.
- 3G is already gone on 3 networks: devices that fall back to 3G will lose service there.
- Plan a local profile: foreign SIMs cannot stay indefinitely. An eSIM able to download a local profile, or a local SIM, avoids being cut off.
- Private delivery works the same from Belgium: device data reaches your cloud over private links. See private delivery.
Other countries in Europe
Full tables: permanent roaming rules by country and 2G and 3G shutdown dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is permanent roaming allowed for IoT SIMs in Belgium?
A regulatory survey reports that Belgium generally prohibits permanent roaming, with exceptions such as eCall and certain nomadic services authorised by the minister, making it the most restrictive European country.
When is 2G switched off in Belgium?
Status by operator, as of 26 October 2026. BASE (Telenet): planned; Orange Belgium: planned for 2028-12-31; Proximus: planned for 2029.
When is 3G switched off in Belgium?
Status by operator, as of 26 October 2026. BASE (Telenet): switched off (2025); Orange Belgium: switched off (2025); Proximus: switched off (2025).