IoT connectivity in Ireland
Updated
In Ireland, 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 2 3G; the status of 1 network 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 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| eir | 2G | Unclear | none | irishexaminer.com No 2G plan found. The article only says older devices keep making calls over 2G after eir's 3G switch-off; nothing on a 2G end date. |
| eir | 3G | Planned | 6 November 2026 | comreg.ie, irishexaminer.com Switch-off in progress: started 1 Oct 2026 in Donegal, phased over several weeks until 6 Nov 2026 (ComReg). Irish Examiner: north/west and east on 14 Oct, southern counties on 28 Oct, service to end by end of October. Sources differ on the final date. |
| Three Ireland | 2G | No plan announced | none | korewireless.com Kore (May 2026) lists no specific 2G planning for Three Ireland (which runs the former O2 Ireland network). No Three or ComReg statement found. |
| Three Ireland | 3G | Switched off | 2024 | irishexaminer.com Indirect: the Irish Examiner says Three carried out its 3G switch-off around the same time as Vodafone (October 2024). No Three or ComReg page with an exact date was found. Conflict: Kore (May 2026) still lists no specific 3G planning for Three; ComReg's 3G page does not mention Three. |
| Vodafone Ireland | 2G | No plan announced | none | n.vodafone.ie Vodafone says 2G provides core voice coverage and it keeps investing in and maintaining it; no end date given. |
| Vodafone Ireland | 3G | Switched off | October 2024 | comreg.ie, n.vodafone.ie Phased from February 2023, final phases from October 2024; ComReg says Vodafone switched off 3G in October 2024 (also covers Clear Mobile and An Post Mobile). |
What it means for IoT devices in Ireland
- 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 2 networks: devices that fall back to 3G will lose service there.
- Private delivery works the same from Ireland: 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 Ireland?
Ireland 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 2G switched off in Ireland?
Status by operator, as of 26 October 2026. Three Ireland: no shutdown plan announced; Vodafone Ireland: no shutdown plan announced.
When is 3G switched off in Ireland?
Status by operator, as of 26 October 2026. Three Ireland: switched off (2024); Vodafone Ireland: switched off (2024-10); eir: planned for 2026-11-06.