Though it did not reference it directly, the PTS has learned from the issues with device compatibility in Australia in preparing operators for 2G and 3G shutdowns
The PTS proactively ordered operators to investigate devices that may be incompatible with 4G emergency calling
On 21 November 2025, Sweden’s Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) issued a statement on maintaining emergency calling services (112 calling) during 2G and 3G network retirements. By the end of 2025, all operators – Telenor, Telia, Tele2 and Tre – will have shut down their 3G networks, and Telenor and Tele2 will also have shut down 2G services, leaving only Telia’s 2G network running until December 2027. In light of the impending deadline, the PTS carried out an urgent inspection of Telenor, Tele2 and Tre to determine the compatibility of various handsets with emergency calling protocols over the operators’ 4G networks. According to the regulator, all three of these operators currently connect to devices that are incompatible with 4G-based 112 calling and would be solely reliant on emergency roaming over Telia’s 2G network to access 112 after December 2025. Consumers with these devices would likely be able to place regular calls over 4G networks but potentially unable to access emergency services, complicating efforts to raise awareness among impacted consumers and potentially leading to dangerous failures in emergency calling as have been witnessed in Australia recently. In his comments on the seriousness of the situation, Dan Sjöblom (Director General, PTS) stated, “we understand that it can be burdensome for users who now need to change phones or operators. At the same time, the alternative is worse”.
Impacted devices must be blocked by networks no later than February 2026
The PTS has ordered the three operators to immediately identify incompatible devices and alert consumers of the problem as soon as possible. All of these devices must be blocked from accessing 4G networks from 2 February 2026, and any device that requires additional action to switch networks (i.e. removing a SIM card) must be blocked earlier, by 1 December 2025. Consumers can be instructed to either switch to a device that is compatible with emergency calling over 4G or move to another operator that can route calls directly over the 2G network, which will only be Telia. Sjöblom notes that the regulator expects operators to handle the issues with consumers “properly” but does not outline any expectations on providing free or reduced devices or otherwise alleviating the costs of switching for consumers, as has been offered in a number of other countries that have completed or are in the process of shutting down legacy networks. According to the European Emergency Number Association (EENA), the issue with device incompatibility during legacy network retirements has been well-known throughout Europe for years, as EENA has previously detailed concerns in a letter to NRAs as early as July 2022.
An international issue in legacy network retirement
Outside of Europe, device compatibility following 2G and 3G network shutdowns has raised issues for visitors roaming internationally and some domestic consumers. Though the PTS does not directly reference it, its statement and preceding investigation follows on shortly from reporting in Australia that a consumer died due to an inability to reach emergency services when calling from a 4G-incompatible device. According to statements from TPG Telecom and the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), the death was reported on 17 November 2025, about one month after the regulator issued a statement on its awareness of device compatibility issues with all operators, including Telstra and Optus, on 23 October 2025. In 2024, ACMA adopted new rules amending the Emergency Call Service Determination and requiring operators to identify incompatible devices, notify consumers and block devices from networks within 28-35 days. The regulator will investigate whether the incident was the result of TPG Telecom’s failure to comply with these rules, though the operator noted it had communicated most recently with consumers on 7 November 2025 about the issue. As a number of other operators approach planned 2G and 3G retirements in the next two years, including in Belgium, France, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway and South Africa, both Australia’s issues with protecting consumers from incompatible devices and Sweden’s proactive approach to preempting emergency calling failures offer immediate lessons learned.
