2G and 3G switch-off in India
Quick answer
2G in India: No dates announced. 3G is being switched off. No operator has announced a 2G switch-off date.
3GClosing
2GNo dates announced
Operators
Checked 2 October 2026.
Dates are set by each operator and can change. Check with us before you plan around them.
| Operator | 3G | 2G |
|---|---|---|
| Bharti Airtel | Off, by February 2021 | No date announced |
| Reliance Jio | Never had | Never had |
| Vodafone Idea (Vi) | Closing | No date announced |
| BSNL | Closing | No date announced |
Details
- Bharti Airtel 3G. On 4 February 2021 Airtel's CFO said its five-quarter programme of shutting 3G and moving the whole network to 4G had finished a couple of quarters earlier; the circle-by-circle shutdown began in Kolkata in 2019. Bharti Airtel
- Bharti Airtel 2G. Airtel's CEO said its 2G network was unlikely to shut in a hurry and that switching it off would wait until 2G revenue becomes very small. Bharti Airtel
- Reliance Jio 2G. Jio launched as an all-IP network built on 4G LTE, with service delivered over LTE in its 800, 1800 and 2300 MHz bands. Reliance Industries (Jio parent)
- Reliance Jio 3G. Jio launched as an all-IP network built on 4G LTE, with service delivered over LTE in its 800, 1800 and 2300 MHz bands. Reliance Industries (Jio parent)
- Vodafone Idea (Vi) 3G. Vi was shutting 3G circle by circle; as of 30 September 2024 it had 3G sites in only 8 of its 22 circles. Vodafone Idea
- Vodafone Idea (Vi) 2G. As of June 2026 Vi still offers voice and data on 2G alongside 4G and 5G in all 22 service areas, and reports no 2G switch-off date. Vodafone Idea
- BSNL 3G. The communications minister told the Rajya Sabha in February 2026 that BSNL is moving all 3G subscribers to 4G as it upgrades its sites, and that 3G is not needed where 4G is provided. Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Communications)
- BSNL 2G. BSNL still runs 2G: TRAI's August 2026 drive test in Assam measured BSNL data on its 4G and 2G networks. Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), via PIB
What this means for your devices
Each SIM profile has its own page, showing where it works and what it supports.
Common questions
When does 2G switch off in India?
No dates announced.
Is 3G still working in India?
Closing.
Sources
- Transcript of Bharti Airtel Limited Third Quarter Ended December 31, 2020 Earnings Conference Call, Bharti Airtel
- Transcript of Bharti Airtel Limited First Quarter Ended June 30, 2020 Earnings Conference Call, Bharti Airtel
- Reliance Industries Sustainability Report 2017-18, Reliance Industries (Jio parent)
- Vodafone Idea Media Release, Q2 FY25 results (13 November 2024), Vodafone Idea
- Vodafone Idea Quarterly Report, Q1 FY27 (quarter ended June 30, 2026), Vodafone Idea
- BSNL is upgrading its existing sites by deploying indigenous 4G stacks, Press Information Bureau (Ministry of Communications)
- TRAI Assesses Mobile Network Quality across Sonitpur district under Assam LSA in the state of Assam, Telecom Regulatory Authority of India (TRAI), via PIB
Checked 2 October 2026. Dates move, so check the operator’s own notice before you plan a change.