Operators must ensure access to 112 – certain mobile phones will be blocked

Tre, Telenor, and Tele2 must ensure that emergency calls can be made. This concerns certain mobile phones affected by the shutdown of 2G and 3G networks. These mobile phones need to be blocked.

In December 2025, 2G and 3G networks will be shut down in Sweden. The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority (PTS) is closely monitoring this technology shift and has held several meetings with the operators.

Recently, PTS received information that customers with certain mobile phones will not be able to reach the emergency number 112 after the 2G and 3G networks are shut down, even though the phones use 4G. According to the information, users will be able to make regular calls but may not be able to reach 112 through their operator’s own network.

This issue is relevant for the operators that are shutting down the 2G and 3G networks.

PTS has therefore conducted an urgent review of Telenor, Tele2, and Tre.

Roaming via another network cannot be the only solution

PTS notes that all reviewed operators, after shutting down 2G and 3G, rely on the affected phones switching over to Telia’s 2G network, which will remain in operation until 2027. This is called emergency roaming and is a safety measure if an operator’s network is down in an area. Calls to 112 can then be routed to a functioning network.

“Emergency roaming is an important feature and works very well as a safety measure. But it cannot be the only solution. The basic principle must be that a functioning telephony service can route calls to 112 via its own network,” says Dan Sjöblom, Director General of PTS.

Operators must not provide their network to mobile phones that cannot make emergency calls

PTS now requires Tre, Telenor, and Tele2 to immediately identify phones that cannot be used on the operator’s network to make emergency calls after 2G and 3G shutdown. Users of these phones must also be informed of the issue immediately.

Starting February 2, 2026, operators must block these phones.

For phones that require a specific action—such as removing the SIM card—to switch over to Telia’s network, this requirement applies as of December 1, 2025.

PTS’s directive means that users of these phones must either switch to a phone that can handle emergency calls over 4G/VoLTE or switch to an operator that can also route emergency calls over 2G and 3G via its own network.

“We understand that it may be burdensome for users who now need to change phones or operators. At the same time, the alternative is worse. We cannot risk people believing they have a functioning telephony service, only to find out later that they cannot reach 112. We also expect operators to handle this situation properly with their customers,” says Dan Sjöblom.

Facts

According to the information PTS has received, this concerns certain phone models. These are phones that have 4G, including the technology that enables voice calls over 4G (VoLTE, Voice over LTE), but do not support emergency calls over 4G/VoLTE.

The risk is that users of these phones can make regular calls but not emergency calls.

For information on which mobile phones are affected, PTS refers to each operator.