Mobile Users in Sweden Face Emergency Call Block as 2G/3G Networks Shut Down
Stockholm, Sweden – Tens of thousands of mobile phone users in Sweden will be unable to reach the emergency number 112 as operators begin shutting down older 2G and 3G networks. Some users are already experiencing disruptions,with full blocking of calls scheduled to begin December 1.
The shutdown by Tele2, Tre, and Telenor is intended to free up capacity for the more modern 4G and 5G networks, requiring users with older devices to upgrade. However, the Swedish post and Telecommunications Authority (PTS) recently discovered that even some 4G-capable phones will be affected, unable to connect to 112 through the operator’s network.
“I cannot say how many it is about. But it is about tens of thousands,” said Petter Öhrn, press officer at PTS, to Senioren.
The issue stems from reliance on Telia’s 2G network for emergency calls from certain phones, a solution PTS deemed insecure. The authority mandated that operators block these phones from making and receiving calls by February 2,2026,though some requiring SIM card adjustments for Telia connectivity are already being blocked as of December 1.
These affected phones possess 4G capability,including VoLTE (Voice over LTE),but lack specific support for emergency calls over 4G/VoLTE.
PTS is requiring operators to identify and contact affected customers, urging them to upgrade their phones or switch providers.
“We understand that it can be burdensome for the users who now need to change phones or operators. At the same time, the option is worse. We cannot risk that people think they have a functioning telephone service, and then it turns out that they cannot reach 112,” stated PTS director general Dan Sjöblom in a recent press release.
