Like the ADSL, which began to be arrested in certain departments, Orange is preparing to finish its very ruin 2G network. The complete closure must take place throughout 2026, a date reaffirmed by the technical director of Orange France, Anne-Flore Roger.
In an interview with Clubic, the manager explains that today “2g is a bit fair to have comfortable data uses.” At the time of smartphones, in fact it becomes inconceivable to be able to navigate on the Internet in 2G.
There are still users with 2G terminals. But most are also compatible with 3G. What leaves a margin if they don’t want to change anything of their habits within a year.
Orange highlights energy safety and consumption
Faced with certain very critical sectors towards the absence of postponement, in particular elevators operators that use 2G SIM cards to allow responding to certain emergencies, Orange specifies that “more than 200 operators in the world have stopped their 2g (and) their 3G.” Therefore, there is no reason why France does not join the movement.
For impacted professionals and clients, the historical operator has created support. But finally it consists of sending them back to devices compatible with 4G, and helping them find their contacts or using their new mobile. “They were warned since 2022 from extinction,” insists Anne-Flore Roger.
Upon arriving in the early 90s, 2G has suffered several technical developments, especially with WAP, the beginnings of the Internet on mobile devices. Particularly slow, the 2G network was replaced by 3G, whose closure has been acting since the end of 2028.
But this is not the only reason: safety and energy consumption are also involved in this closure: “Between 20 and 30% of the energy consumption of mobile antennas is due to 2G and 3G (…) is (also) necessary, in the world in which we live, go to technologies that allow these safety reinforcements.” 4G and 5G have reinforced encryption and authentication technologies.
In its latest report, the ARCEP, the Telecommunications Gendarme, says that the four operators cover more than 99% of the population (between 90% and 97% of the France area) in 4G. A figure that should increase even more by 2028.
Source: BFM TV
