The shutdown of 2G is looming and if your IoT devices and solutions currently rely on the network for connectivity it’s vital that you now prepare. You may need to plan SIM swaps, upgrades, or complete replacements. Failing to plan could result in disruption, even loss of service, leading to reputational and revenue damage when 2G is switched off. Some US companies experienced the impact of this when their 2G-dependent solutions “went dark”. Watch our webinar Navigating 2G/3G sunsets: Essential lessons from the US, for the full story.
2G, 3G and 4G co-existed for a long time but with the advent of 5G, mobile network operators (MNOs) have been planning the switch-off of the older 2G and 3G services to free up spectrum for more cost-efficient and higher potential 5G and Long-Term Evolution (LTE) technologies.
However, many IoT devices connect via 2G, often transporting the small packets of data we commonly associate with machine to machine (M2M) applications. If you have installed devices, or planned deployments, in this position you must understand your options and plan your migration onto an alternative technology. That could be 4G or a Low Power Wide Area Network (LPWAN) technology.
When and where 2G is shutting down
Broadly speaking, the 3G shutdown began first and is still going in many regions. 2G has outlasted 3G in many countries; in some it will be in place until at least the end of the decade. However, in others it is scheduled to go by 2025.
In the UK, the government announced its intention to phase out 2G by 2033 at the latest, agreed by Vodafone, EE, Virgin Media, O2 and Three. In France, there are operator estimates for the end of 2025 and the end of 2026. Meanwhile, Vodafone in Germany estimate the end of 2025, while other operators have not announced their plans.
Clearly, it is a mixed picture and MNOs will and do change expected closure dates making migration plans challenging if you, like many companies, have international or global IoT products, services and solutions. The best advice is to prepare, and if you haven’t already done so, make plans now for your transition.
Are you ready for the 2G shutdown? Find out with our readiness checklist
What could happen to the IoT that uses 2G?
Your IoT devices or solutions that use 2G may need to be decommissioned, undergo SIM swaps, be upgraded or replaced completely.
The level of impact you’ll feel will depend on a number of factors including (but not limited to) the cellular module, the SIM type, the configuration of connectivity and the availability of alternative bearer services.
You must assess the likely impact on your deployments and act, because if you don’t you could suffer continuity disruption or loss of service.
Avoiding 2G closure pitfalls: lessons from the US
According to consulting and market intelligence firm James Brehm & Associates some IoT solutions in the US “went dark” when 2G shutdown. This was despite multiple MNO warnings.
For one producer of industrial and agricultural equipment, 100,000 devices stopped communicating; a city in North Dakota lost the ability to monitor and manage water meters and installations; and a trucking company had to pay out hundreds of thousands of dollars to terminate lease contracts early.
The question of what went wrong was explored in our webinar, featuring guest speaker James Brehm. Watch now to hear from James how the chain of communication between MNO, mobile virtual network operator (MVNO), telemetry service provider (TSP), reseller and original equipment manufacturer (OEM) contributed to the challenge. James will also uncover how complacency played a part and inventory management of devices that were yet to be deployed.
Alternative 2G options and migration planning
The next generation of IoT products will use 4G, 5G and the latest LPWAN technologies to ensure they remain connected throughout their lifecycle.
You should begin your migration planning with an inventory of your devices, identifying the cellular technologies they use, the cellular module vendor name and part number, their physical location and a priority rating.
Then, you should move on to assess the alternative connectivity options. Your connectivity provider should help you with this. Options include:
LTE Cat-1 BIS
An established 4G/ LTE service present in every network’s technology stack, across the globe. eSIM compatible and benefiting from well established roaming agreements to support global connectivity with a single SIM stock keeping unit (SKU). Consider this for low power IoT devices requiring higher speed or two-way data transfers where a three-to-five-year battery life is acceptable or rechargeable batteries are in place.
LTE-M
An energy-efficient LPWAN technology for low power IoT devices that require higher speed or two-way data transfers, mobility or voice/SMS services. LTE-M supports cell to cell roaming and has better signal penetration for indoor or underground deployments. Find out more about LTE-M.
NB-IoT
Another energy-efficient LPWAN technology, NB-IoT has the deepest reach into deployments below street level and supports long application lifecycles where data traffic is low and transferred intermittently. Find out more about NB-IoT.
For the full comparison of cellular bearer services to replace 2G, download our 2G and 3G networks sunsetting guide.
Securing voice services in a post-2G world
A range of IoT applications must support voice services including lone worker safety devices, elevator call systems, personal safety alarms and secure door entry systems.
Beyond 2G/3G, voice communication will be supported by either Voice over IP (VoIP) or Voice over LTE (VoLTE).
VoIP is based on an IP data connection, so it provides a universal solution but requires investment in software services device- and server-side.
VoLTE is a 4G alternative, which is increasingly well supported in 4G LTE networks and roaming agreements through some MNOs and on certain cellular modules and bearers.
Where to get further help
Wireless Logic can help you plan your migration off 2G. Get in touch with our IoT solution experts to understand your options further.
Watch our webinar to hear James Brehm’s lessons from the US and check your own state of readiness with our checklist . You can also download our 2G and 3G networks sunsetting guide and browse our range of LPWAN and 2G/3G sunset resources for further information.
