Mobile technology lifecycle: the future of 2G networks
Access this insight with a Standard plan. Contact our sales team to get started.
Despite the industry’s current focus on mobile broadband services, 69% of global cellular connections still run on 2G networks as of Q3 2013. This is due to the increasing prevalence of the developing world as a proportion of total connections; the developing region is now home to four in every five connections worldwide, and 80% of those mobile connections are 2G-only. In contrast, the proportion of 2G-only connections in the developed world has declined to 30%.
In this research, we present some of the key factors that influence the lifecycle of 2G networks in both developed and developing markets. Our findings show that, throughout the next four years, most mobile operators expect that 2G networks will remain an important asset with some operators having "no plans to switch it off" as 2G is still needed for a number of reasons.
Nevertheless, a group of pioneer operators in advanced and mature mobile markets have already taken commercial decisions to refarm 2G frequencies for 3G/LTE use, and have consequently scaled back procurement of 2G-only network hardware and devices.
Report details
Mobile technology lifecycle: the future of 2G networks
Report details
Mobile technology lifecycle: the future of 2G networks
Related research
Digital Nations 2026: building trusted digital ecosystems in ASEAN
Digital trust has become a strategic delivery mechanism for building digital nations. Countries that build confidence in digital infrastructure, services and institutions will be better placed to convert digitalisation into adoption, innovation, investment and socioeconomic impact. To explain how digital trust can be strengthened, this report introduces four interconnected foundations of digital trust. Traditionally viewed as connectivity providers, mobile operators are increasingly contributing to all four trust foundations, making them key enablers of digital trust.
Global Mobile Forecasts, Q2 2026 Review: capturing the changes, discussing the drivers
GSMA Intelligence constantly monitors mobile markets across the world to capture the most recent trends and share the latest available data. This analysis looks at the key revisions made to the mobile connection forecasts over the previous quarter and the drivers underpinning the changes.
The missing link: business messaging enters its next era
Business messaging remains a cornerstone of the mobile ecosystem, even as it transforms. Operators and their partners have an opportunity to shape an integrated, rich and trusted messaging environment that meets modern user and enterprise expectations. Broad reach, robust security and seamless user experience will be pivotal to messaging’s success over the next five years and beyond. This report outlines the industry outlook for innovation and disruption in business messaging, and highlights the strategic imperatives for mobile operators.
Authors
How to access this report
Annual subscription: Subscribe to our research modules for comprehensive access to more than 200 reports per year.
Enquire about subscriptionContact our research team
Get in touch with us to find out more about our research topics and analysis.
Contact our research teamMedia
To cite our research, please see our citation policy in our Terms of Use, or contact our Media team for more information.
Learn more- 200 reports a year
- 50 million data points
- Over 350 metrics
How can we support you?
Get in touch
Contact the GSMA Intelligence support team for help with your account, subscriptions, or access to reports and insights.
Newsletter
Subscribe to the GSMA Intelligence newsletter for the latest industry news and insights, delivered to your inbox.