Is your tracker still working? Here’s the latest, up-to-date roundup on the 2G & 3G shutdown in New Zealand as of January 2026. What’s happening now, what’s ending soon and does it affect you?
Yes, it’s officially underway:
2degrees
- Began turning off 3G in December 2025, starting with rural sites.
- The rest of the network is now scheduled to start shutdown on 27 January 2026.
OneNZ
- Began shutting down 3G in January 2026, starting with Dunedin and now rolling out across other regions and ending with Wellington on 17 March 2026.
- As part of this process OneNZ is also phasing out the last remaining 2G service in NZ.
Spark
- Planned to complete its 3G shutdown by the end of 2025 but has recently updated their schedule with a new shutdown date of 31 March 2026.
What this means for you
By end of March 2026 Spark, One NZ and 2degrees will have turned off all 2G/3G networks.
Phones, tablets, GPS trackers, security alarms and other devices that rely on 2G or 3G connections won’t be able to use mobile data, make calls or send texts after that.
Are You Ready?
Check if your phone is affected – free text “3G” to 550 from your phone to see if you’re good to go.
Upgrade your GPS and other IoT devices — the majority of old devices rely on 2G/3G so will need replacing with newer 4G-enabled devices.
Conclusion
Don’t wait for your tracker to disappear from the map. Quick replacement will ensure your assets and operations remain uninterrupted through the nationwide process.
The new 4G and 5G services provide faster speeds as well as better reliability and they are expected to stick around for many years to come.
All GPS trackers sold by TrackrTek are 4G compatible. If you’re looking for a replacement GPS tracker don’t forget to check out our devices.
