The rollout of 5G coincides with the shutdown of many old Orange smartphones.
Are you excited to take advantage of 5G closer to home? Did you know that this new generation of communications could mean the end of millions of smartphones around the world? While many operators are still deploying dedicated antennas for a true standalone 5G network (not those based on old 4G antennas), Orange has announced that it will shut down the network for multiple phones in 2025. We explain.
Building a network of telecommunications antennas is expensive. It is a laborious and very expensive process for operators, whether they are in France or not. Thus, the largest brands such as Orange, Bouygues Telecom, SFR or Free have long relied on old telecommunications antennas to allow their users to benefit from a reliable and efficient mobile network.
But time passes and technologies evolve. The old 2G technology has gradually given way to 3G standards and then to 4G, which is now mainly used in France. Little by little, the new 5G network is also being deployed. However, this requires the construction of new dedicated antennas, but not only that: 5G can also pass through old antennas already in place.
For operators, not adapting is out of the question. The oldest generations of telecommunications must therefore gradually disappear. This is why Orange has already confirmed its intention to depreciate its 2G networks by the end of 2025 and its 3G networks by the end of 2028. As a result, older phones that are only compatible with 2G will no longer be able to use the mobile network. In 2023, Orange estimates that less than 8% of its customers will still rely on 2G and 3G networks, which represents nearly a million devices still in service.
While the vast majority of smartphones are still 3G or 4G compatible, this is not necessarily the case for other infrastructures such as remote elevator alarms or older commercial vehicles that may still rely on these older communication bands to function.
On the government side, the Ministry of Digital Transformation promised in 2023 that the state will remain vigilant about users who rely on 2G and that it will not leave anyone without a solution.
If you still have a very old smartphone, Orange's planned 2G cessation in 2025 could be a good sign to upgrade to a newer model. Don't hesitate to ask about the best device for your needs.
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