French mobile operator Bouygues Telecom will decommission its 2G network by the end of 2026, while its 3G service will be switched off in 2029.
As with many other operators around the world, the operator will reallocate this spectrum into its 4G and 5G networks.
Local publication L'Usine Digitale confirmed the operator's plans, during an interview with Jean-Christophe Ravaux, B2B market director at Bouygues Telecom.
"The closure of these networks is a fundamental trend because these technologies are coming to an end. That's why it makes sense to reallocate these frequencies to 4G and 5G for better quality of service. This is the meaning of the story. We have therefore decided, after studying the interest of our customers, to switch off our 2G network at the end of 2026 and our 3G network at the end of 2029."
Across the world, operators have been announcing plans to retire 2G and 3G networks, with Vodafone beginning its phased 3G switch-off in the UK last week.
Fellow French operator Altice France (SFR) recently outlined plans to decommission its 2G network in 2026, with 3G by 2028. Meanwhile, Orange will turn off its 2G network in 2025 before retiring its 3G network in 2028.