BSNL, India: 2G and 3G shutdown dates
Updated
BSNL has announced no date to switch off 2G and plans to switch off 3G, 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 India.
2G and 3G status at BSNL
| Network | Status | Date | Confidence | Sources and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2G | No plan announced | none | low | telecomtalk.info When switching 3G sites to 4G (Madurai example), BSNL said the remaining sites keep serving 2G and the 2G network stays intact. No 2G end date found; source is old and local. |
| 3G | Planned | none | low | patnapress.com, telecomtalk.info Regional phase-out in progress, no national end date found: BSNL switches off 3G where it deploys 4G (since 2019); in Bihar 3G data was to stop from 15 Jan 2025 with full move to 4G targeted by March 2025. Date left empty as no nationwide date was found. Kore lists 31 Dec 2024; emnify lists a planned closure without date. |
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 BSNL
- 2G keeps running for now. BSNL has announced no closing date, so 2G fallback still helps devices that roam in India, but new designs should not depend on it.
- 3G works until the shutdown. Devices that rely on 3G should move to 4G before then.
- For new devices, choose 4G-based technologies: LTE Cat-1 bis, LTE-M or NB-IoT where the network offers them.
- Foreign SIMs in India: permanent roaming of foreign IoT SIMs is not allowed. Details on the India 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 India
| Operator | 2G | 3G |
|---|---|---|
| Bharti Airtel | No plan announced | Switched off, 2020 |
| Vodafone Idea (Vi) | No plan announced | Planned, 2025 |
All operators and both rules for India: IoT connectivity in India. Every country: 2G and 3G shutdown dates by country and operator.
Frequently asked questions
When does BSNL switch off 2G in India?
BSNL has announced no date to switch off 2G, as of 26 October 2026. When switching 3G sites to 4G (Madurai example), BSNL said the remaining sites keep serving 2G and the 2G network stays intact. No 2G end date found; source is old and local.
When does BSNL switch off 3G in India?
BSNL plans to switch off 3G, with no date given yet. Regional phase-out in progress, no national end date found: BSNL switches off 3G where it deploys 4G (since 2019); in Bihar 3G data was to stop from 15 Jan 2025 with full move to 4G targeted by March 2025. Date left empty as no nationwide date was found. Kore lists 31 Dec 2024; emnify lists a planned closure without date.