France is switching off 2G in 2026: what travelers should check
August 7, 2026. France's 2G shutdown has already reached parts of the southwest. The next phase starts in Nice on September 22, before Orange and Free extend the switch-off across mainland France in October. SFR and Bouygues Telecom follow in November and December.
Most travelers with a current unlocked 4G or 5G phone should keep mobile data. During the 2026 change, many non-VoLTE calls can still fall back to France's remaining 3G networks. The immediate risk is a 2G-only phone, or a foreign line that has neither a working 3G voice path nor supported VoLTE roaming with its French partner.
The practical answer: check 4G, VoLTE roaming and any 3G voice fallback for your exact phone and home line before departure. A France Roaming eSIM can provide data on the current partner networks shown on its package card, but it does not upgrade an old phone or guarantee calls and SMS on the home number.
France 2G shutdown dates by operator
The French telecom regulator Arcep updated its national timetable on July 20. Operator pages now provide more detail for the Orange network used by Orange and Free.
| Operator | Mainland France 2G timetable | 3G timetable | What a visitor needs to know |
|---|---|---|---|
| Orange | Southwest phases completed March 31, May 12 and June 9. Nice follows September 22, many departments on October 6 and most remaining departments on October 20. Regulatory white-zone sites move between December 1 and 15. | 2028 | The exact October phase depends on the department. |
| Free Mobile | No separate 2G network; its published dates follow the Orange switch-off. | Not announced | A Free 2G fallback disappears with the Orange network in that area. |
| SFR | Very dense areas between November 15 and 30, then nationwide between December 1 and 15. | End of 2028 | A December trip should not assume that 2G fallback remains. |
| Bouygues Telecom | Brest, Guipavas, Nancy and Vandoeuvre-les-Nancy on November 15, then nationwide between December 1 and 15. | End of 2029 | The four-city first phase is followed quickly by the national switch-off. |
Orange's current schedule and Free's department list give the more precise September and October dates. Arcep notes that operator calendars can change, so check again if the trip is close to a listed phase.
The dates above cover mainland France and Corsica. French overseas territories use different operators and timetables. A plan or phone that works in Paris should not be treated as proof of the same network arrangement in Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana, Mayotte, Reunion, Saint Martin or Saint Barthelemy.
What the France 2G shutdown changes for travelers
The shutdown removes an old fallback, not mobile service as a whole. Arcep says more than 99.8% of sites carrying 2G or 3G are also equipped with 4G. Its technical committee concluded that operators have the tools to manage the closures without a substantial national coverage reduction for 4G and 5G data devices and for voice users with working VoLTE.
That broad result does not make every traveler-phone combination compatible. These are the main cases:
| Traveler setup | Likely result after the local 2G switch-off | Check before travel |
|---|---|---|
| 2G-only phone | Calls, SMS and mobile data stop on the closed 2G network | Replace it with a compatible unlocked 4G or 5G phone |
| 3G-only phone | It may continue while that operator's 3G remains, but it is not a durable travel setup | Operator 3G date and phone bands |
| 4G phone without VoLTE | Mobile data can work and calls may fall back to 3G until that network closes | Exact model, 3G bands and future VoLTE support |
| VoLTE phone without a supported roaming relationship | Data can work while calls fall back to 3G or fail if no supported voice path remains | Home carrier's France VoLTE roaming and fallback support |
| Current supported phone and line | Data, calls and SMS should use current networks where the plan and coverage allow | Software, roaming settings and French partner network |
| Data-only Roaming eSIM | App data can use a listed current partner; native voice, SMS and a French number are not included unless the card says so | Selected package, phone compatibility and a separate voice plan if needed |
The distinction matters because VoLTE is not just a phone specification. The home carrier must enable it for the line, device and visited network. France's 3G networks provide more time for many voice users, but a generic statement that a plan includes France roaming is not the same as confirmation that carrier calls will work on the exact handset.
One current example shows why the carrier and device combination matters. SoftBank added VoLTE roaming on Free Mobile in France on July 23 for SoftBank, Y!mobile and LINEMO customers. Its notice also says the available operator can vary by device. That confirms a voice path for eligible combinations; it does not prove that every Japanese phone, plan or other foreign line can use VoLTE on Free Mobile.
Will a Roaming eSIM still work after France closes 2G?
Yes, on a compatible unlocked phone and where a current listed partner network is available. The France catalog uses modern mobile networks; the live package endpoint returned 18 plans on August 7. Most of those cards listed Bouygues, Free Mobile, Orange and SFR with 5G availability, while two daily options listed Orange only. The selected card is the source of truth because networks and plan terms can change.
A Roaming eSIM is useful here because it can separate travel data from the home carrier's voice-roaming arrangement. Maps, rail apps, messaging, email and internet calls can use the travel data line even when the traveler chooses not to use home-carrier data roaming.
It does not repair every shutdown issue:
- It cannot add 4G bands, VoLTE or Roaming eSIM support to an old phone.
- It does not make the home number's calls or SMS compatible with a French partner.
- A data-only plan does not include native voice, SMS or a French number unless the package card says so.
- Hotspot use and top-up eligibility depend on the selected package, not on the France destination alone.
Our phone compatibility guide covers the device checks. The calls and SMS guide explains why a data connection and a native phone service are separate.
🏆 Where Roaming eSIM has the edge: a traveler can choose France data before departure and see the allowance, validity, price, speed label, listed partner networks and top-up eligibility on the live card. That is a clearer data decision than hoping an older 2G fallback will remain. Keep the home line or another verified voice option when ordinary calls, SMS or the usual number matter.
For a France-only trip, compare the France Roaming eSIM page. The Europe Roaming eSIM page is usually the better fit when the itinerary crosses a border. Longer routes can compare Global 120+ Areas and Global139, but always confirm France and every other stop on the selected card. The country versus regional plan guide explains the tradeoff.
How to check your phone before traveling to France
1. Find the exact model number
Do not stop at a family name such as Galaxy, Pixel or iPhone. Regional versions can support different bands or carrier profiles. Record the full model number and the country where it was sold.
2. Confirm 4G and VoLTE roaming with the home carrier
Ask two precise questions: "Does my exact phone model and current line support VoLTE roaming on your French partner networks after the 2G shutdown? If not, is 3G voice fallback still available for my line?" If calls, incoming SMS or verification codes matter, ask about each function rather than accepting a general roaming answer.
3. Update the phone and network settings
Arcep advises travelers and residents to install current phone software and select 4G or 5G in mobile-network settings. Some phones show a VoLTE or 4G Calling switch; others let the carrier control it without a visible toggle.
4. Install the travel data line before departure
Install the Roaming eSIM while reliable internet is available, then follow the selected package's start rule. Installation and activation are not always the same event. The installation timing guide explains when to scan the profile and when a plan may begin.
On a dual-line phone, select Roaming eSIM for cellular data and keep the home line active only for the calls or messages you intend to receive. Disable data roaming on the home line if you do not want it to supply data. Home-carrier charges can still apply to calls, SMS or supported backup calling.
5. Test ordinary functions after arrival
Turn off Wi-Fi, confirm that mobile data works, then test a normal non-emergency call and ordinary SMS if those services matter. Do not treat a successful speed test as proof that carrier voice is working. Never call 112 merely to test the phone.
Calls, SMS and emergency communication need their own plan
Arcep says a 4G phone that lacks VoLTE can continue to use mobile data, but ordinary voice cannot be carried on 4G through that device. During the 2026 2G closure, a compatible line may still use 3G for calls. That fallback ends later: Orange and SFR plan to close 3G in 2028, and Bouygues in 2029. SFR's shutdown guidance makes the same distinction between internet access and calls.
For a short trip, app calls over Roaming eSIM data may cover routine contact. They are not a promise of native emergency calling or reliable access to the home number. Save accommodation, airline, insurer and companion contacts offline. If the home line is important, confirm its French VoLTE roaming support and arrange a second verified calling method.
Questions travelers are asking about France's 2G shutdown
When will 2G stop working across France?
Orange and Free expand their closure from September 22 through October 20, with regulatory white-zone sites moving in early December. SFR and Bouygues finish their nationwide shutdowns between December 1 and 15.
Does the shutdown affect visitors using a foreign SIM?
It can. A foreign line uses a French partner network. Mobile data may continue on 4G or 5G, while carrier voice needs either supported VoLTE roaming or a working 3G fallback with that partner.
Will a phone that displays 4G still make calls?
Not always. The 4G symbol proves a data connection, not working VoLTE roaming. A call may move to 3G during 2026, but that is not a long-term solution. Confirm the exact phone and carrier pairing, then test an ordinary call after arrival.
Can I keep my home number and use Roaming eSIM for data?
Usually, if the phone supports dual lines. Keep the home line enabled for supported calls or SMS, select Roaming eSIM for cellular data and review the home carrier's roaming charges.
Will changing from a physical SIM to Roaming eSIM fix an old phone?
No. The subscription format cannot add missing 4G bands, VoLTE support or a compatible modem. The phone itself must support the required current networks.
Will bank codes and other SMS messages still arrive?
They can arrive on a supported home line, but a data-only Roaming eSIM does not receive that line's SMS. Ask the home carrier whether incoming SMS works over its French partner and keep another verification method available.
Can I use a 3G-only phone for one more trip?
Possibly, because the major operators plan to retain 3G until 2028 or 2029. It is still a fragile choice: the exact partner, band support and local coverage matter, and Free has not announced its final 3G date.
Does the shutdown affect Roaming eSIM hotspot use?
The 2G closure does not itself disable hotspot on a modern data line. Hotspot support, daily high-speed allowances and reduced-speed continuation depend on the selected package terms.
Are the dates the same in French overseas territories?
No. Arcep publishes separate schedules for each territory and operator. Check the actual destination instead of applying the mainland France table to an overseas trip.
Can I rely on a data-only plan to call 112?
Do not assume so. A working data plan is not proof of native emergency calling. Confirm the phone and voice line with the provider, keep 112 saved and arrange another way to reach help if the primary line fails.
Sources and updates
The timetable was checked on August 7 against Arcep, Orange, Free, SFR and Bouygues Telecom pages. The coverage assessment came from Arcep's March 2026 technical report. On August 11, SoftBank's July 23 notice was added as a concrete example of device-dependent VoLTE roaming on Free Mobile for eligible SoftBank, Y!mobile and LINEMO customers. Current Roaming eSIM plan counts, package fields and listed networks came from the public France package endpoint during the original review.
Those pages explain operator dates, resident phones or connected equipment well.
We will update this story if an operator changes a shutdown phase, Arcep revises the national timetable, a material traveler VoLTE issue is confirmed or the live France package fields change.
