NOS, Portugal: 2G and 3G shutdown dates
Updated
NOS has announced no date to switch off 2G and switched off 3G in 2025, 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 NOS
| Network | Status | Date | Confidence | Sources and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2G | No plan announced | none | low | iot.cards Only an IoT tracker (Aug 2026) found, listing no 2G date for NOS. No operator statement found. |
| 3G | Switched off | 2025 | medium | 4gnews.pt, adslfibra.pt Phased switch-off from mid-2024; ANACOM's Q1 2025 5G report says NOS had switched off all its 3G sites during Q1 2025 (as reported by the press). |
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 NOS
- 2G keeps running for now. NOS 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 NOS. 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 |
|---|---|---|
| MEO | No plan announced | Switched off, 31 January 2024 |
| 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 NOS switch off 2G in Portugal?
NOS has announced no date to switch off 2G, as of 26 October 2026. Only an IoT tracker (Aug 2026) found, listing no 2G date for NOS. No operator statement found.
When did NOS switch off 3G in Portugal?
NOS switched off its 3G network in 2025. Phased switch-off from mid-2024; ANACOM's Q1 2025 5G report says NOS had switched off all its 3G sites during Q1 2025 (as reported by the press).