Mobile phones have not had access to T-Mobile's 2G network since June 2021, but other devices were still supported until now. For those devices, including machine-to-machine and IoT hardware, T-Mobile recommends checking whether 3G or another connection type is available in the settings. If not, new hardware or a new SIM card may be required.
Many smart meters still use a 2G connection to share data from the electricity network with grid operators. Enexis told Tweakers that roughly 1.1 million older smart meters in the Netherlands still communicate over 2G. That operator is not tied to T-Mobile and expects to keep using another 2G network until 2030. Newer meters use 4G. Liander also has its own agreements with providers to keep 2G available for the time being, covering roughly a million smart meters that will be replaced gradually.
Besides T-Mobile, Ben and Tele2 will also stop offering 2G from the same date, as both providers use T-Mobile's network. KPN's 2G network is expected to remain active until the end of 2025, while Vodafone's comparable cellular network will remain available at least until the end of 2024.
