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Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →No single nationwide date for shutting down Brazil’s 2G and 3G networks has been announced by Anatel. The regulator’s change, effective April 6, 2025, concerns certification of new devices: they must support 4G or newer technology, and voice-capable equipment must support VoLTE and SMS over IMS. Mobile operators—not that certification rule—plan the gradual network transition under Anatel oversight.
Did Anatel order Brazil’s 2G and 3G networks to shut down?
No nationwide switch-off date is established in the official Anatel material cited here. Brazil is moving away from legacy networks, but the regulator’s device-certification reform is not an order to turn off every 2G or 3G network on a set day.
Four related changes are easy to confuse:
- Network retirement: an operator switches off some or all of its legacy radio network.
- Certification reform: Anatel changes which new devices can receive approval.
- Spectrum refarming: an operator reallocates spectrum used for 2G or 3G to newer services.
- Service migration: customers and connected equipment move to newer networks and services.
Anatel has said the certification change does not mean operators are shutting down 2G or 3G. Operators plan the technical and operational transition, while Anatel monitors it and its consumer impact. Timing can differ by operator, location, frequency band, device, and use case. Anatel’s clarification and its final certification announcement describe those distinct issues.
What changed on April 6, 2025?
From April 6, 2025, newly certified mobile phones and mobile-access terminal equipment must support at least 4G. Devices that support voice must also support VoLTE, emergency calls over VoLTE, and SMS over IMS. In practical terms, Anatel no longer certifies equipment that is limited to 3G or older technologies under this rule. The requirements are set out in Ato nº 14,430/2024.
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This applies to new certification approvals; it does not invalidate the certification of older devices already in use. A phone with 2G, 3G, and 4G support is not automatically barred because it can also use legacy networks. A device that supports only 2G or 3G is more exposed to future operator retirements, while a 4G phone may still depend on older networks for calls if it lacks working VoLTE.
What the transition means for phones and calls
4G does not guarantee voice service
VoLTE carries voice calls over 4G LTE. If an operator removes 2G or 3G voice fallback, a phone needs functional VoLTE on that operator’s network to make ordinary calls over 4G. A 4G or LTE icon alone does not establish that it can do so. VoLTE can fail because the model lacks support, the feature is switched off, the carrier has not approved or provisioned the model, or its software lacks the correct configuration.
SMS is another compatibility check. Anatel’s rule calls for SMS over IMS on voice-capable equipment. A device that retains mobile data but cannot send ordinary SMS may not meet needs such as authentication, banking, alarms, or machine controls.
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Older and imported phones
Existing phones do not all stop working because the new certification rule took effect. Their future depends on what the operator continues to provide in the user’s location and whether the exact phone supports the required bands and services. Imported or unofficial models deserve particular scrutiny: nominal 4G support does not guarantee Brazilian frequency-band compatibility, Anatel homologation, or VoLTE interoperability with a local carrier.
Anatel’s earlier 5G FAQ said discontinuing earlier technologies was not expected in the short term during the initial 5G rollout. That was historical context, not a guarantee about future network availability.
Connected equipment may be the less visible problem
Phones are only part of the transition. Embedded modems can remain in service for years, and an installation that works today may still rely on legacy network coverage for data, voice, or SMS. Equipment to check includes:
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- Vehicle emergency-call and telematics modules, fleet and asset trackers.
- Burglar alarms, remote monitoring panels, and medical alert devices.
- Payment terminals, vending equipment, and legacy routers, modems, and USB dongles.
- Agricultural and rural sensors, utility equipment, elevators, and industrial monitoring systems.
- Any machine-to-machine device with a modem that cannot be remotely updated.
Replacing only a SIM cannot add 4G or VoLTE capability to a 2G/3G-only modem. Even replacing a modem may leave issues with antennas, firmware, power, certification, or the system that receives its data.
Why operators are moving from 2G and 3G
Newer networks can use spectrum more efficiently and support current data demand. Maintaining older radio layers also consumes spectrum, power, maintenance capacity, and operational resources. Retiring or refarming legacy spectrum can let operators devote more capacity to 4G and 5G.
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Voice can move from circuit-switched 2G/3G fallback to VoLTE. For connected devices, the appropriate successor depends on the job: LTE-M, NB-IoT, and LTE Cat-1 or Cat-1 bis can serve different machine-to-machine needs. Anatel’s transition consultation discusses the migration rationale and newer-network options for machine connections.
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Is 5G required to replace a 2G or 3G device?
No. For many phones, routers, and connected devices, compatible 4G is the practical replacement. Anatel’s infrastructure report said 4G coverage reached all 5,570 Brazilian municipalities in its June 2025 data; that nationwide municipality count does not guarantee coverage at every address or for every carrier. Anatel’s 2025–2029 infrastructure report provides that snapshot.
5G is a separate rollout with phased coverage obligations through 2029. Those milestones concern 5G deployment, not a national deadline to terminate 2G or 3G. Anatel’s 5G obligations set out that deployment schedule.
Anatel reported 276.4 million mobile accesses in the second quarter of 2026; 66.1 million, or 23.9%, were 5G lines. Those figures show 5G adoption, not how long a particular operator will retain a legacy network. The second-quarter 2026 competition report gives the figures.
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Choosing a network for connected devices
| Technology | Potential fit | Important limitation |
|---|---|---|
| 4G LTE | General-purpose IP connectivity, routers, and many phones or IoT devices. | Check bands, coverage, power needs, and—if voice is required—VoLTE support. |
| LTE Cat-1 or Cat-1 bis | Trackers, payment terminals, and some general-purpose or voice-capable IoT equipment. | Confirm operator support, module features, certification, and the application’s needs. |
| LTE-M | Mobile IoT with moderate data needs and lower power use than conventional LTE. | Availability varies by operator and location. |
| NB-IoT | Small, infrequent telemetry messages and battery-powered sensors where supported. | Not suited to many mobile, voice, or high-throughput applications. |
| 5G | Higher capacity, low latency, or specialized enterprise deployments. | May be more costly and power-hungry than needed for simple telemetry. |
For any option, check carrier availability at all deployment locations, roaming, antennas, power budget, firmware, SIM or eSIM management, certification, and expected device lifetime. A device described as “4G” is not automatically fit for every network or application.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.How to check whether a phone is ready
- Check the exact model’s specifications. Confirm 4G LTE support and Brazilian band compatibility, not just a product-family name.
- Confirm VoLTE on the intended carrier. Ask whether that exact model is supported and provisioned; check that VoLTE is enabled in the phone settings.
- Check Anatel homologation. This is particularly important for imported or unfamiliar models. Anatel’s device guidance advises checking device and coverage compatibility with the operator.
- Test a call over 4G where possible. With the carrier’s and device’s settings, place a call while the phone is forced to 4G/LTE. If it drops to 3G during the call, it may still rely on legacy voice fallback.
- Test SMS and follow carrier instructions for emergency calling. A data connection or network icon does not prove these services work over the newer network.
- Update the operating system and carrier settings. On a dual-SIM phone, test each SIM, slot, and carrier separately.
- Check local coverage. Ask about the areas where the phone will actually be used, especially rural or remote locations.
What businesses should do about legacy-connected equipment
Do not wait for a single nationwide switch-off announcement to identify exposure. Build an equipment inventory and verify it with carriers and vendors. Record:
- Model, hardware revision, IMEI or modem/module identifier.
- Operator, SIM profile, supported technologies and bands, and installation location.
- VoLTE, SMS-over-IMS, LTE-M, or NB-IoT support as relevant to the service.
- Firmware update capability, power and battery constraints, antenna requirements, and backend dependencies.
- Roaming or private APN requirements and any contractual replacement or support deadline.
Classify each unit as safe when its required features are verified; conditionally safe when 4G is present but bands, provisioning, VoLTE, or carrier approval remain uncertain; at risk when it is 2G/3G-only or depends on legacy voice or SMS; or unknown when documentation and field tests are inadequate.
Before a large replacement, pilot the proposed equipment on each relevant carrier and in representative locations. Validate the whole service—not just radio registration—including calls or SMS if needed, data delivery, remote management, and the receiving application. A 4G replacement is often the most practical path; LTE-M or NB-IoT may suit lower-power telemetry where supported, while 5G is usually unnecessary for simple sensor messages.
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- Confirmed: New-device certification requirements took effect on April 6, 2025, including 4G-or-newer support and specified VoLTE and SMS-over-IMS capabilities for voice-capable equipment.
- Confirmed: The rule does not itself revoke approval for devices already certified and in use.
- Not established as a national date: A single deadline for switching off every Brazilian 2G or 3G network.
- Not a shutdown calendar: The 2029 dates in Anatel’s materials are 5G deployment obligations.
Any specific retirement date should be attributed to the operator and geographic scope that announced it. Do not assume all carriers, regions, or device services will change together.
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