Orange completes 2G shutdown across France

Orange has retired its 2G GSM network, finishing the switch-off in the last 43 departments of mainland France on October 20. The freed 5MHz of spectrum will be reallocated to 4G and 5G, and the operator plans a similar 3G shutdown in 2028.

• 2G shutdown completed in the last 43 French departments
• Freed 5MHz of spectrum to be reused for 4G and 5G
• Sending 1GB over 2G uses up to 500 times more energy than 5G
• Orange plans to retire its 3G network in 2028