Your phone may not be able to place emergency calls after 2/3G networks close: What you need to know

Dear supporters,

Thank you for signing our petition. We have important news, and we need your help.

Legacy mobile networks in Europe are being shut down. By 2030, most countries will have closed their 2G and 3G networks completely.

Here's why this matters: many phones, even newer 4G models from 2023, can only call emergency services (112) using 2G or 3G networks. When those networks disappear, those phones may not be able to reach emergency services at all.

This isn't a guess. It already happened in Australia during their network transition, with serious and in some cases fatal consequences. It could happen here.

In practice, the risk is especially acute where emergency calling becomes dependent on device behavior, carrier restrictions, plan-based gatekeeping, or roaming barriers, meaning some people could be locked out of emergency voice capabilities at exactly the moment they need help most.

We contacted EENA, the official association representing emergency services across Europe. Their message is unambiguous: this is a real and urgent problem.

EENA has been warning EU decision-makers for years. They have written multiple times to the European Commission (in 2022, 2024, and as recently as November 2025) warning that 2G/3G shutdowns must not proceed until emergency communications remain reliable. They have publicly urged regulators and phone companies to delay further 2G/3G shutdowns until problems are resolved, and highlighted the impact on European travelers, including those using roaming services.

The law backs this up. European law (Directive 2018/1972, the European Electronic Communications Code) makes it clear: you have the legal right to reliable emergency calling. Ensuring uninterrupted access to emergency services (112) is a mandatory obligation.

Yet the shutdowns are moving forward anyway. Each signature on this petition, each documented failure, each share, creates real pressure on decision-makers. If enough of us speak up, they cannot ignore the risk.

Share this update with friends, family, and colleagues. The more people who understand the risk, the harder regulators have to work to justify proceeding.

If your phone stops working in an emergency, report it. Real-world evidence is powerful. If you experience a failed emergency call, or know someone who does, please share the details.

We're continuing to track institutional responses from the European Commission, BEREC, and national regulators. Most importantly, we're keeping pressure on decision-makers for a simple solution: don't shut down 2G/3G networks until we can guarantee emergency calling works reliably on modern networks.

The core message is straightforward: emergency calling should work. Always. Your signature shows decision-makers that citizens care about this.

Thank you.