MEO, Portugal: 2G and 3G shutdown dates
Updated
MEO has announced no date to switch off 2G and switched off 3G on 31 January 2024, 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 Portugal.
2G and 3G status at MEO
| Network | Status | Date | Confidence | Sources and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2G | No plan announced | none | low | eco.sapo.pt, iot.cards MEO (Altice Portugal) kept 2G for voice when it closed 3G; no 2G end date found. A 2026 IoT tracker lists no date for Portuguese operators. |
| 3G | Switched off | 31 January 2024 | high | apdc.pt, eco.sapo.pt Regional phase-out from 4 Sep 2023; completed nationwide on 31 Jan 2024 (per ANACOM data reported by APDC). 2G retained for voice. |
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 MEO
- 2G keeps running for now. MEO has announced no closing date, so 2G fallback still helps devices that roam in Portugal, but new designs should not depend on it.
- 3G fallback no longer works on MEO. 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 Portugal: permanent roaming is governed by the EU roaming regulation, which generally allows it under wholesale agreements between operators. Details on the Portugal 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 Portugal
| Operator | 2G | 3G |
|---|---|---|
| NOS | No plan announced | Switched off, 2025 |
| Vodafone Portugal | Unclear | Planned |
All operators and both rules for Portugal: IoT connectivity in Portugal. Every country: 2G and 3G shutdown dates by country and operator.
Frequently asked questions
When does MEO switch off 2G in Portugal?
MEO has announced no date to switch off 2G, as of 26 October 2026. MEO (Altice Portugal) kept 2G for voice when it closed 3G; no 2G end date found. A 2026 IoT tracker lists no date for Portuguese operators.
When did MEO switch off 3G in Portugal?
MEO switched off its 3G network on 31 January 2024. Regional phase-out from 4 Sep 2023; completed nationwide on 31 Jan 2024 (per ANACOM data reported by APDC). 2G retained for voice.