- Its shutdown will allow the release of radio spectrum, which can be reused to improve 4G and 5G coverage and capacity, offering more speed, reliability and energy efficiency.
- The Government wants to ensure an orderly transition, with special focus on user protection, territorial coordination and transparency
- The shutdown of these technologies will allow Spain to have a modern, more efficient and sustainable digital infrastructure
The Ministry for Digital Transformation and the Civil Service has today published a public consultation to collect information and proposals from operators, administrations and other affected agents on the future shutdown of 2G and 3G technologies in Spain.
The information gathered will serve to make an orderly transition, since it will allow to define aspects such as shutdown calendars by operator and technology; plans for migration of services and devices 2G and 3G to 4G and 5G; communication measures and accompaniment to users or indicators to monitor the process and guarantee the continuity of 112.
The goal is for the process to ensure user protection, territorial coordination and transparency. For this reason, it provides for the creation of a monitoring working group to coordinate the transition with operators, and sectoral bodies, as well as with groups specially affected.
The query specifically asks about the planned communication strategy: notice periods, channels, messages type, campaigns, customer service. Also on specific measures for specific devices and services (eCall, alarms, elevators, geolocation devices…) and vulnerable groups such as elderly people, people who depend on remote assistance, with disabilities or language barriers and in rural areas.
Other European countries are immersed in this process, since these networks, implemented more than two decades ago, are reaching the end of their technological cycle. Keeping these technologies active entails high costs, increased energy consumption and capacity and safety limitations compared to today’s networks.
Its shutdown will allow the release of radio spectrum mainly in the 900 and 2100 MHz bands, which can be reused to improve the coverage and capacity of 4G and 5G, offering more speed, reliability and energy efficiency. In this way, Spain will have a more modern, efficient and sustainable digital infrastructure.
The consultation will remain open until January 20, 2026.