Overview
- German operators Vodafone, Deutsche Telekom and O2 Telefónica activated the 4G/5G-based Next Generation eCall in their networks, with legacy 2G eCall continuing in parallel.
- NG eCall moves emergency calls off GSM to LTE and eventually 5G, cutting call setup times and lifting the old system’s 140‑byte data cap for richer crash information.
- From January 1, 2026, new vehicle model approvals in the EU require NG eCall capability, with installation mandated for all new registrations starting in 2027.
- Telekom plans to retire 2G in June 2028 and Vodafone in September 2028, with Vodafone keeping 2G for critical eCall use through 2030, while O2 Telefónica has not set a date.
- Roughly 16 million vehicles in Germany still use the 2G-based eCall, and ADAC warns those systems will fail once GSM is switched off; 1&1 has not implemented NG eCall due to lacking fleet‑SIM contracts.