The 3G switch-off in Ireland: dates, networks and your phone

When is the eir 3G switch-off?

It started on 1 October 2026 in Donegal and moves region by region. eir's schedule ends on 28 October 2026, when "all 3G services are switched off", but the top of the same page says the phased switch-off runs "until November 6th". ComReg describes it as running "over a number of weeks".

ComReg words the second phase differently from eir: it says the switch-off started in Donegal and extends "to Sligo from 14 October", while eir's tile for that date reads "North/West/East (ex east coast)". If your county is not named, treat the later dates as the ones that apply to you.

RTÉ first reported the plan on 28 May 2026. eir's 3G licence runs until 11 March 2027, according to ComReg's guidance to the networks, so the switch-off comes before the licence ends.

Which brands does the eir 3G switch-off affect?

Every brand that runs on eir's network: eir, GoMo, Lidl Connect and Lycamobile. ComReg says that because GoMo and Lycamobile use the eir network, "3G services for its customers are also being retired". GoMo and Lycamobile have published their own notices, and Lidl's coverage page says 3G mobile data begins switching off from 1 October 2026.

GoMo's notice says "we are switching off 3G on the 1st October 2026" and repeats eir's questions and answers. Lycamobile says 3G services "will be phased out from 1st October 2026". Customers of Vodafone, Three, 48, Tesco Mobile, Clear Mobile, An Post Mobile, Sky Mobile and Virgin Mobile are not affected by eir's switch-off. See which network each brand uses.

What happens to a phone that only does 3G?

Its mobile data stops, but it can still make calls and send texts over 2G. eir says: "If your phone or device is 2G/3G-only, mobile data will stop working. Calls and texts will still work on 2G, but quality may vary." Phones with 4G or 5G are not likely to be affected, according to ComReg.

A 4G phone that does not support VoLTE (calls over 4G) also falls back to 2G for calls. Lycamobile puts it this way: "If your handset does not support 4G/VoLTE/5G, call availability will be limited to the 2G network." Data on such a phone carries on over 4G.

The phones most at risk are older basic phones and early smartphones. ComReg's guidance to the networks says devices "less than approximately 5 years old" support VoLTE.

How do you check if your phone will keep working?

Look in your phone's mobile network settings. If you can choose 4G, LTE or 5G, mobile data will keep working; make sure that option is switched on and the phone's software is up to date. Then look for VoLTE or "4G Calling" in the same settings: if it is there, turn it on, and calls will go over 4G.

eir's page gives the same two steps: switch on 4G or 5G in your settings and keep your software updated. It has no text-a-number check. Vodafone publishes a 4G Calling compatibility checker and device guides that list VoLTE under each phone's specifications.

If your phone only offers 2G and 3G, it will lose mobile data on eir's network. If you are with eir and need help, eir lists its Age Friendly team on 1800 252 252.

Do you need a new SIM card for the 3G switch-off?

Only if your SIM is very old. eir says you can go into any eir store or request a SIM replacement online, "free of charge", and will contact customers who are affected. Lycamobile says you "do not have to change your SIM card if it is compatible with 4G". GoMo's notice does not mention SIM cards.

ComReg lists the help eir may offer as "updating device settings, replacing a SIM card free of charge, or moving to a compatible device". Lidl Connect SIMs and eSIMs work on 4G and 5G, according to Lidl, so the SIM is not an issue there.

What other devices can the 3G switch-off affect?

Anything with a SIM that only does 3G, not just phones. ComReg names cars, alarms, card payment terminals, monitored care alarms and trackers among the devices that may be affected. If you have a personal alarm or a car with built-in connectivity on eir's network, ask the supplier whether it uses 3G before your area's date.

ComReg's page links to a notice from Tesla as one example of a car maker telling owners about the change. Businesses with card terminals or alarm panels on eir SIMs should check each device, because they may not show any warning until the data stops.

Has Three switched off 3G, and has Vodafone?

Vodafone has: ComReg says "Vodafone switched off its 3G network in October 2024", after a phased switch-off that began in February 2023. That covered Clear Mobile, An Post Mobile and Sky Mobile too. Three has not published a 3G switch-off date on its own site, and ComReg's 3G page does not mention Three.

The Irish Times reported in September 2026 that Three began switching off 3G around the same time as Vodafone; Three itself has not announced a date or finished switch-off on three.ie, so this site lists it as not published. 48 and Tesco Mobile, which use Three's network, have not published anything either.

Vodafone told 4G customers whose phones lack 4G Calling that they "will still receive calls over the 2G network without impacting your data services", and asks customers to turn on 4G Calling (VoLTE) and WiFi calling.

Is 2G being switched off in Ireland too?

Not that any network has announced. Vodafone says there will be no changes to its 2G network, which "provides core voice coverage". ComReg's 2024 guidance said "No mobile network has yet notified ComReg of plans to withdraw a 2G service", and networks must tell ComReg at least six months before switching a network off.

2G is what keeps older phones making calls after 3G goes. ComReg's guidance also says VoLTE emergency calling "must be implemented as part of any network cessation", because a 4G phone without VoLTE might not be able to make emergency calls once both 2G and 3G are gone. That has not happened in Ireland.

Does the 3G switch-off cost you anything?

Not on your plan: eir's page answers "Does a 4G/5G service cost more?" with "No." The cost, if any, is a new phone. eir does not offer free or discounted phones for the switch-off; its page links to its shop. Moving to Vodafone does not help a 3G-only phone, since its 3G is already gone.

If you need a new phone anyway, check it supports VoLTE and, if you want it, eSIM. The where to buy page checks over a hundred phone models for SIM and eSIM support.