Eir 3G switch-off: will your gate, alarm or intercom keep working?
Eir will start retiring its 3G network on 1 October 2026, beginning in Donegal. Most phones are fine. Gate openers, alarm communicators, intercoms and trackers that only work on 3G are not. Here is how to check yours in a few minutes.
Last checked 26 September 2026.
What is changing in Ireland
- Eir: 3G is being switched off in phases from 1 October 2026, starting in Donegal, with the rest of the country following. GoMo and Lyca Mobile customers are affected too, because those brands run on Eir's network.
- Vodafone: switched off its 3G network in October 2024, including for Clear Mobile and An Post Mobile customers.
- What ComReg says: the regulator lists security and fire alarms, monitored care alarms, GPS trackers, payment terminals, vehicle telematics and automated electric gates among the equipment that can be affected, and advises checking with the device supplier.
These are the operators' and the regulator's own statements, listed under Sources below. Check your operator's notice for the date in your area.
Which equipment is at risk
The switch-off only breaks equipment that needs a 3G connection. What decides it is the radio module inside the device, not the brand or the age of the gate.
| Radio in the device | Effect of the 3G switch-off | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 2G / GSM only | Not affected by this change | Common in older gate openers that only take calls. 2G networks will close eventually, on a separate timetable. |
| 3G only (UMTS, WCDMA or HSPA) | Stops working when 3G ends in your area | Some older alarm communicators, telecare units, trackers and intercoms. Needs a 4G replacement. |
| 2G and 3G | May fall back to 2G | Calls and SMS often continue on 2G, but data features can stop. Check the manual. |
| 4G (LTE, Cat-1, Cat-M or NB-IoT) | Not affected | Check that the SIM and the device support the same bands. |
Check your device in five minutes
- Find the model number on the label and open the manufacturer's data sheet. Look for the supported networks: 2G or GSM, 3G or UMTS or HSPA, 4G or LTE.
- If the device has a status page or app, look for the network type it is registered on (for example GPRS or EDGE for 2G, UMTS or HSPA for 3G, LTE for 4G). Note it down while the device is working normally.
- Run a real test. For a gate opener, ring it from an authorised phone and see whether the gate operates. For an alarm, send a test signal to the monitoring centre or app.
- Check which SIM and network the device is using. A SIM tied to one network has no fallback if that network retires the technology your device needs.
- Write the result on the service record with the date, so nobody repeats the exercise next year.
If the device is 3G-only
A new SIM cannot add a radio the device does not have. If the device needs 3G, the fix is a 4G version of the same unit or a replacement module.
- Ask the manufacturer or supplier whether a 4G version or upgrade module exists for your model.
- For alarms and telecare, speak to your monitoring company first. They may need to approve or manage the change.
- Plan the replacement before the switch-off date for your area, not after the first missed call.
- Keep a list of which sites are done and which are still to do.
What the right SIM can and cannot do
A SIM does not change what a device can do. It does change how exposed the device is to one network's decisions.
- A multi-network SIM can register on whichever supported network has the best signal, so one network's outage or retirement does not strand the device.
- Annual billing avoids the pay-as-you-go problem of a SIM that expires or runs out of credit and quietly stops the gate working.
- It cannot make a 3G-only device work once 3G has gone from the networks around it.
SimFalcon supplies managed multi-network IoT SIMs for gates, alarms, intercoms and CCTV in Ireland and the UK.
Checklist for installers and property managers
- List every site with GSM equipment: gates, intercoms, alarm communicators, trackers and telemetry.
- For each one record the model, the radio (2G, 3G or 4G), the SIM number and network, the install date and the last successful test.
- Prioritise anything that is 3G-only, starting with the counties in the first phases (Donegal first) and working through the rest.
- Order 4G replacements or upgrade modules for those units and book the visits.
- Test every unit after the change and before you leave site.
- Tell customers in writing which units are done, which are pending and why.
What about the UK?
All the UK's mobile network operators have told the UK Government they do not plan to offer 2G and 3G services beyond 2033. If you also look after sites in Britain or Northern Ireland, see our UK version of this guide.
Frequently asked questions
When does Eir switch off 3G?
Eir will begin retiring its 3G network on 1 October 2026, in phases, starting in Donegal. ComReg's 3G retirement page and Eir's own notice give the current position.
Will my GSM gate opener stop working?
Only if it needs 3G. A 2G-only (GSM) unit is not affected by this switch-off, while a 3G-only unit loses service once 3G is retired in your area. The model's data sheet shows which radios it has.
Will a new SIM fix a 3G-only alarm communicator?
No. A SIM cannot add a radio that the device does not have. A 3G-only communicator needs a 4G replacement, usually arranged with the alarm or monitoring company.
Does this affect Vodafone SIMs?
Vodafone Ireland switched off its 3G network in October 2024, so equipment that relied on Vodafone 3G has already had to move to 2G or 4G.
Who can help me check a batch of devices?
SimFalcon's team and Engineer Support can help work out which SIM and network a device is using. Send the model numbers and site locations through the contact page.
Sources
Checked 26 September 2026. Dates can change, so confirm with your own operator.
- ComReg: 3G retirement (operator dates and the list of affected devices)
- ComReg: Eir 3G switch-off from October (announcement of 20 August 2026)
- Eir: 3G switch-off
- RTÉ: Eir to begin retiring 3G network from October (24 September 2026)
- Mobile UK: 2G and 3G switch-off (UK 2033 commitment)
Related guides
Checking a batch of gate, alarm or intercom units? Send us the model numbers and locations.