The telecommunications sector and companies affected by the 2G and 3G network shutdown assume that a process that has been underway for several years, albeit at a slower pace than many experts would like, must be completed before 2030. The underlying problem is the lack of an official, unified date for the complete phasing out of both networks. Since operators in each country control the timeline, the shutdown is not uniform globally, and companies lack a fixed, unified schedule for the migration plan.
“By the end of 2025, many operators will have already stopped offering 3G connections. Although 2G will remain available in Spain until the end of the decade, it's advisable to start the migration plan to more current access technologies as soon as possible, since in many cases it's a considerable undertaking,” explains Jon Mielgo, General Manager of Wireless Logic Spain. This is especially important considering that some of the affected companies have Internet of Things (IoT) applications of such varied nature as connected security solutions, payment devices, electrical monitoring equipment, and fleet management systems with thousands of GPS trackers in their vehicles. In other words, businesses based on a large number of connected devices that use forms of connectivity every day that are at imminent risk of becoming obsolete.
The time is now.
There's a paradox in this situation: companies know they don't have much time to migrate their 2G and 3G-based connectivity to new standards like 4G and 5G. Although the decision has been delayed to allow time for the migration of hundreds of thousands of connected devices, the switch-off is just around the corner. “2G will remain relevant for a few years, but it's best to take action as soon as possible. If a company has to migrate connectivity across thousands of devices, it's better to do it in a planned way, over several years, rather than in just a few months,” explains Jon Mielgo. “Technology advances, and it's a natural process that the switch-off will eventually happen, especially considering that if these systems migrate to 4G or 5G, they will be more efficient, secure, and adaptable to an IoT ecosystem that demands new standards,” he adds.
Companies and operators generally have their sights set on 2030, so many are simply “buying time,” says Mielgo. “Our recommendation is to act as soon as possible, because the switch-off has already happened in countries like Japan and South Korea, where 2G connectivity no longer exists. But at the same time, the UK has set 2033 as the 2G switch-off date, and in Spain, they're talking about the end of the decade. That's too broad a range, and it's the operators in each country who are setting their own dates. That's why we believe the situation demands immediate action and that we begin the migration before it's too late, since many companies could find themselves working with an obsolete connectivity system almost overnight, with all the implications that would have for their businesses,” he warns.
Wireless Logic has developed a 2G/3G switch-off guide to inform the industry and businesses about their migration options and help them smooth out this potentially disruptive but necessary transition. “In any case, it seems that the matter will be resolved between 2025 and 2030 with the complete disappearance of 2G and 3G. Therefore, given the uncertainty and the fact that many connected systems cannot simply be upgraded but will require complete replacements, we recommend planning and starting the migration no later than 2025, if not earlier. This will prevent bottlenecks and avoid neglecting aspects such as cybersecurity,” says Jon Mielgo. “We recommend taking an inventory of 2G and 3G connected devices as soon as possible, indicating the technical specifications, communication needs in terms of latency and bandwidth, the upgrade priority for the business, and the operational challenges regarding physical intervention on the equipment.”
Choosing the right technology
A key decision when undertaking a migration plan is choosing the new network access technology for device communication. To do this, the needs and circumstances of the devices must be clearly understood by answering a series of questions. How much data do they consume? How often do they need to be communicated with? Do they use energy-saving methods such as PSM or eDRX? What is the physical location of the equipment? If they are located underground, NB-IoT (Narrowband) might be necessary, but if they are mobile devices, alternatives such as LTE-M might be preferable. In the case of a global IoT deployment, LTE CAT-1 Bis might be the appropriate choice, given that it does not have the infrastructure deployment limitations that affect NB-IoT or LTE-M. “There are many factors to consider, and we understand that making the right decisions can be very complex. For a smooth and successful migration, it’s crucial to have a connectivity provider that understands the ecosystem and can guide companies every step of the way,” concludes Jon Mielgo.
It is a process that can be very arduous, but with the support of specialized partners like Wireless Logic, it can become a simpler and more efficient task, given their ability to detect the needs of each business and offer the necessary guarantees so that the 2G and 3G switch-off, whenever it finally happens, catches companies with their homework done on time and in the right way.
