On Tuesday, September 22, Orange officially shut down its 2G mobile network in Nice, a significant move for the telecommunications provider. While nine departments in the southwest of France had already discontinued Orange’s 2G service, Nice marks the first major city in the country where this outdated network has been permanently turned off. As the capital of the Alpes-Maritimes department and the fifth most populous city in France, with over 357,000 residents, the shutdown in Nice could have broader implications for users and local businesses. 2G, or second-generation mobile network technology, is an older system that supports basic functions like voice calls and text messaging. While it is largely obsolete, it is still used by many connected devices, including alarm systems, teleassistance bracelets, and even some elevator systems. Industry professionals have expressed concerns about the impact of early 2G shutdowns on these systems. Laure de la Raudière, president of the Arcep, France’s communications regulatory authority, noted that affected sectors had been given three years to transition to newer technologies. Orange’s 2G shutdown will continue in the coming weeks. On October 6, the company plans to turn off its 2G network in 44 departments across regions like Brittany, Pays de la Loire, Corsica, Burgundy-Franche-Comté, parts of Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Occitanie, PACA, the eastern part of Île-de-France, and parts of the Grand Est. By October 20, Orange will deactivate its 2G network nationwide, except in certain "white zones" that are regulated for a temporary reprieve, where the shutdown will occur between November 1 and December 15. Although Orange has completed its 2G shutdown in Nice, the older network is not entirely gone from the city. SFR and Bouygues Telecom still operate their 2G antennas in the area, but these will also be phased out soon. SFR plans to end its 2G service on November 15, while Bouygues Telecom intends to shut down all its 2G sites between November 1 and December 15. This coordinated move signals the end of an era for 2G technology in France.