IoT connectivity in Bulgaria
Updated
In Bulgaria, permanent roaming is governed by the EU roaming regulation, which generally allows it under wholesale agreements between operators. Of the 3 mobile operators we track there, 0 have switched off 2G and 0 3G; the status of 4 networks is still unclear, as of 26 October 2026. Sources are listed below each table.
Permanent roaming
EU/EEA rule. M2M falls within the EU Roaming Regulation, which leaves permanent roaming for M2M to commercial wholesale agreements that may include clauses against it; BEREC concluded in March 2025 that no further regulation was needed, and most member states permit it, Belgium being the main exception.
Sources: berec.europa.eu, berec.europa.eu, cullen-international.com.
2G and 3G shutdowns by operator
| Operator | Network | Status | Date | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| A1 Bulgaria | 2G | Unclear | none | emnify.com emnify only lists 'Planned closure' with no date; no A1 statement found. |
| A1 Bulgaria | 3G | Planned | 31 December 2025 | korewireless.com, emnify.com KORE lists 'Shutdown in progress' with 2025-12-31; emnify lists 'Planned closure'. Date has passed; no confirmation of completion found. |
| Vivacom | 2G | Unclear | none | No source found (Vivacom pages give no date). |
| Vivacom | 3G | Unclear | none | No source found (Vivacom pages give no date). |
| Yettel Bulgaria | 2G | Unclear | none | Former Telenor Bulgaria. No source found. |
| Yettel Bulgaria | 3G | Planned | 31 March 2027 | wirelesslogic.com Former Telenor Bulgaria. Only Wireless Logic reports a 3G shutdown scheduled for 31 March 2027; no Yettel announcement found. |
What it means for IoT devices in Bulgaria
- Private delivery works the same from Bulgaria: 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 Bulgaria?
Bulgaria applies the EU roaming regulation, which covers the EU and EEA. M2M falls within the EU Roaming Regulation, which leaves permanent roaming for M2M to commercial wholesale agreements that may include clauses against it; BEREC concluded in March 2025 that no further regulation was needed, and most member states permit it, Belgium being the main exception.
When is 3G switched off in Bulgaria?
Status by operator, as of 26 October 2026. A1 Bulgaria: planned for 2025-12-31; Yettel Bulgaria: planned for 2027-03-31.