The European Emergency Number Association says unresolved technical and regulatory gaps in 4G and 5G emergency calling are already leaving citizens unable to reach help
The European Emergency Number Association (EENA) has called on policymakers and mobile network operators to delay further shutdowns of 2G and 3G networks, warning that unresolved interoperability issues are already undermining access to emergency services in parts of Europe.
In a statement released on 29 January, EENA said it “strongly recommends” postponing planned switch-offs until identified emergency communications problems are fully resolved, arguing that the transition to exclusively 4G and 5G networks has exposed structural weaknesses in how emergency calls are handled over IP-based mobile networks.
EENA has raised concerns about the issue since 2022, cautioning that the removal of legacy circuit-switched networks could leave some users unable to place emergency calls at all. While 4G and 5G networks are capable of supporting emergency voice services via IP Multimedia Subsystem (IMS), EENA says implementation remains inconsistent across networks, devices and borders.
According to the association, problems observed in countries that have already shut down 2G or 3G include failed emergency call attempts, degraded call quality, unreliable caller location data and situations where public safety answering points (PSAPs) are unable to call back people in distress. “These risks are no longer hypothetical,” EENA said, pointing to evidence from regulators and emergency services that issues are already occurring in live networks.
The shut downs continue
The warning comes as several European countries accelerate plans to retire older mobile technologies, following a global trend driven by spectrum efficiency and operating cost reductions. Sweden has begun shutting down its 2G and 3G networks from December 2025, with operators like Tele2, Telenor and 3 (Tre) switching off those legacy technologies starting 1 December 2025 as part of a broader transition to 4G and 5G.
Reports from Swedish authorities confirm that the decommissioning of 2G and 3G networks commenced in December 2025, and that certain older devices are no longer able to make emergency calls once the legacy networks are removed. In November, the Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) warned that some 4G phones would no longer be able to reach the emergency number 112 once legacy networks are withdrawn.
PTS found that a number of devices, despite supporting LTE data services, lack reliable support for emergency calls over Voice over LTE (VoLTE). The regulator has ordered operators Tre, Telenor and Tele2 to identify affected handset models, inform customers and begin blocking incompatible devices from early 2026, arguing that users must not be left with a false sense of security about their ability to reach emergency services.
Some devices are being blocked between 1 December 2025 and 2 February 2026 if they lack proper voice-over-LTE/IMS emergency support. Meanwhile Telia will continue to operate its 2G network until 2027, meaning customers on that network may still retain fallback for emergency calls beyond the initial phase-out period.
Australia fallout
Similar issues have emerged outside Europe. Australia’s recent 3G shutdown has been followed by multiple high-profile emergency call failures – linked to deaths – prompting regulatory inquiries and forcing operators to notify customers with incompatible devices. The incidents have drawn attention to the industry’s long-standing reliance on 2G and 3G networks as a fallback for voice services, even after the widespread rollout of LTE.
EENA says these examples underline a broader, systemic problem. Many emergency systems, including vehicle eCall modules, monitored alarms and telecare devices, were designed to operate on 2G or 3G networks. While next-generation alternatives exist, deployment of compatible infrastructure and devices remains uneven, particularly in roaming and cross-border scenarios.
The association is urging regulators, operators and handset manufacturers to work together to ensure emergency calling over 4G and 5G is robust, interoperable and reliable before legacy networks are switched off. It also calls for greater transparency around shutdown timelines and stronger safeguards to protect vulnerable users who rely on third-party emergency systems.
“Without urgent action,” EENA warned, “more people risk being unable to reliably reach emergency services or receive an appropriate emergency response when it matters most.”
