
Access this insight with a Premium plan. Contact our sales team to get started.
The pace of 2G/3G network shutdowns is increasing as operators look to optimise their network operations and costs, and to refarm spectrum for 4G and 5G. Most recently, Telefónica Deutschland (O2) announced it is accelerating the shutdown of its 3G network in various regions of Germany. Based on announced plans from operators, at least 64 networks will be shut down between 2021 and 2025. In fact, 2021 is set to be the year with the highest number of 2G and 3G network shutdowns so far. While migrating voice users onto 4G and 5G networks can be achieved more easily via marketing and awareness campaigns, M2M/IoT devices are another matter. Oftentimes these devices have a long device lifecycle and are in hard-to-reach locations, making the upgrade process troublesome.
Report details
Saying goodbye to legacy networks, but what's next for IoT?
Report details
Saying goodbye to legacy networks, but what's next for IoT?
Related research
The share of operators confident in their IoT business prospects has doubled in the last few years
Operators' confidence in their IoT business prospects is rising, with the share of operators confident having doubled between 2023 and 2026. GSMA Intelligence's Chart of the Month is a visual way of telling an important story in the mobile and broader tech ecosystem. From the shape and size of markets to trends in consumer behaviour, we aim to provide food for thought through informative visuals designed to bring colour and clarity to complex issues facing the industry.
Operators’ enterprise strategies and plans: survey insights reveal the shifting trends in 2026 and beyond
This report summarises the key findings from the December 2025 GSMA Intelligence Operators in Focus: Enterprise Opportunity Survey, which surveyed 100 global operators on their enterprise strategies, plans and emerging opportunities. Key topics include operators’ strategic priorities, partnerships, acquisitions and investment in enterprise 5G offerings such as private 5G, IoT, cloud, edge computing and network slicing.
Operators in Focus: Enterprise Opportunity Survey Dashboard 2026
This dashboard presents the latest findings of the GSMA Intelligence Operators in Focus: Enterprise Opportunity Survey. The survey asked 100 operators globally about their enterprise strategies, including how they are carrying out their plans and how they assess emerging opportunities.
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.
