Vodafone Germany: 2G and 3G shutdown dates
Updated
Vodafone Germany plans to switch off 2G in September 2028 and switched off 3G in 2021, 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 Germany.
2G and 3G status at Vodafone Germany
| Network | Status | Date | Confidence | Sources and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2G | Planned | September 2028 | high | bundesnetzagentur.de, heise.de 2G for residential and business customers ends by end of September 2028. For particularly critical IoT applications (e.g. eCall) 2G stays on until end of 2030, infrastructure removal from Jan 2031. Date brought forward: Oct 2024 plan was a gradual switch-off by end-2030. |
| 3G | Switched off | 2021 | medium | teltarif.de, bundesnetzagentur.de Switch-off began 30 Jun 2021 and ran in several waves until late summer 2021 (teltarif). Bundesnetzagentur confirms 3G networks were switched off in 2021. |
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 Vodafone Germany
- 2G devices keep working until the shutdown (September 2028). Replace 2G-only devices before that date; once the network closes, they lose service on Vodafone Germany.
- 3G fallback no longer works on Vodafone Germany. 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 Germany: permanent roaming of foreign IoT SIMs is allowed with conditions. Details on the Germany 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 Germany
| Operator | 2G | 3G |
|---|---|---|
| O2 Telefónica (Telefónica Germany) | Planned, December 2028 | Switched off, 30 December 2021 |
| Telekom Deutschland | Planned, 30 June 2028 | Switched off, 30 June 2021 |
All operators and both rules for Germany: IoT connectivity in Germany. Every country: 2G and 3G shutdown dates by country and operator.
Frequently asked questions
When does Vodafone Germany switch off 2G in Germany?
Vodafone Germany plans to switch off 2G in September 2028. 2G for residential and business customers ends by end of September 2028. For particularly critical IoT applications (e.g. eCall) 2G stays on until end of 2030, infrastructure removal from Jan 2031. Date brought forward: Oct 2024 plan was a gradual switch-off by end-2030.
When did Vodafone Germany switch off 3G in Germany?
Vodafone Germany switched off its 3G network in 2021. Switch-off began 30 Jun 2021 and ran in several waves until late summer 2021 (teltarif). Bundesnetzagentur confirms 3G networks were switched off in 2021.