IoT connectivity in the United Kingdom
Updated
In the United Kingdom, no law we found restricts permanent roaming; mobile operators set the terms. Of the 4 mobile operators we track there, 0 have switched off 2G and 4 3G, as of 26 October 2026. Sources are listed below each table.
Permanent roaming
No law found; set by operators. No UK rule restricting permanent inbound roaming of foreign IoT SIMs was found; IoT SIMs homed abroad are sold for permanent use across all four UK networks on commercial roaming terms, and IoT services need no notification and IoT SIMs no registration.
Sources: cellhire.com, cullen-international.com. Confidence: low.
2G and 3G shutdowns by operator
| Operator | Network | Status | Date | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EE | 2G | Planned | May 2029 | ee.co.uk, gov.uk EE will begin closing its 2G network from May 2029; completion date not stated. UK government and operators: no 2G or 3G networks after 2033 at the latest. |
| EE | 3G | Switched off | February 2024 | ee.co.uk, ispreview.co.uk Switched off during January-February 2024; last of about 18,000 3G sites (Belfast) taken off air in the week before 26 Feb 2024. |
| Three UK (VodafoneThree) | 3G | Switched off | November 2025 | ispreview.co.uk Target was end-2024; remaining 3G sites finally switched off at the end of November 2025. Three never ran a 2G network (no 2G row). Now part of VodafoneThree. |
| Virgin Media O2 (O2) | 2G | Planned | 2029 | ispreview.co.uk, gov.uk O2 will start switching off 2G in summer 2029; no completion date given. Government backstop: 2033. |
| Virgin Media O2 (O2) | 3G | Switched off | December 2025 | ispreview.co.uk, ispreview.co.uk Phased switch-off during 2025; ISPreview (Jun 2026) says it was completed at the end of 2025, while VMO2 said in Dec 2025 some 3G signal could remain in a few places in early 2026. |
| Vodafone UK (VodafoneThree) | 2G | Planned | 2030 | ispreview.co.uk, gov.uk Vodafone confirmed it intends to switch off 2G in the UK during 2030. Vodafone UK and Three UK merged as VodafoneThree (Vodafone owns 100% since 30 Jul 2026). Government backstop: 2033. |
| Vodafone UK (VodafoneThree) | 3G | Switched off | February 2024 | ispreview.co.uk, ispreview.co.uk UK-wide 3G switch-off finished in late February 2024 (target was end-January); a few security-sensitive and remote rural sites stayed on for a short period afterwards. |
What it means for IoT devices in the United Kingdom
- 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 4 networks: devices that fall back to 3G will lose service there.
- Private delivery works the same from the United Kingdom: 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 the United Kingdom?
No UK rule restricting permanent inbound roaming of foreign IoT SIMs was found; IoT SIMs homed abroad are sold for permanent use across all four UK networks on commercial roaming terms, and IoT services need no notification and IoT SIMs no registration.
When is 2G switched off in the United Kingdom?
Status by operator, as of 26 October 2026. EE: planned for 2029-05; Virgin Media O2 (O2): planned for 2029; Vodafone UK (VodafoneThree): planned for 2030.
When is 3G switched off in the United Kingdom?
Status by operator, as of 26 October 2026. EE: switched off (2024-02); Three UK (VodafoneThree): switched off (2025-11); Virgin Media O2 (O2): switched off (2025-12); Vodafone UK (VodafoneThree): switched off (2024-02).