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New Report Examines the UK Impact of Switching Off 2G Mobile

Thursday, Oct 17th, 2019 (12:21 pm) - Score 16,349

At some point in the future Vodafone, O2, Three UK and EE (BT) may take the decision to start switching off their old 2G (GPRS, EDGE etc.) mobile networks; mostly used for voice. A new report from the UK Spectrum Policy Forum and Real Wireless helps to highlight some of the challenges this could create.

The idea of switching off 2G networks is hardly new or surprising, particularly since today most of us make calls and surf the internet (mobile broadband) via 3G, 4G and 5G networks rather than the old 2nd generation platform. Back in 2015 Ovum predicted (here) that the first operators could start to do this from 2020, most likely as part of a cost saving exercise and a way of re-farming the spectrum for use with 4G or 5G etc.

However last year Vodafone UK signalled that their old 3G network would probably be retired – in a couple of years’ time – before 2G because the latter remains useful as a low-power fall back and is still necessary for some rural areas, as well as particular applications (here). Smart meters and other Internet of Things (IoT) / M2M services may still be dependent upon 2G, as are certain roaming facilities with overseas operators and in-vehicle calling systems.

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The new report covers these aspects and notes that 4G networks carried 85% of the UK’s data traffic as of the end of 2018, up from 74% a year earlier, an increase which has been enabled by rising 4G coverage and more affordable devices and services. By comparison 2G and 3G data connectivity is in decline (sadly we don’t have a 2G specific figure but then it won’t account for much).

2g__and_3g_data_usage_uk

Tony Lavender, Chair of the Spectrum Policy Forum Steering Board, said:

“We sometimes focus on technology without fully understanding the impact on services people rely on. Among other things, 2G enables smart metering and the mobile phones used by many vulnerable people in society. We need to think through the alternatives for these services before switching them off.

This report was commissioned by the SPF to highlight to Government, Ofcom and operators just what services will be affected, and the potential implications of a premature switch-off.”

As it stands we don’t know of any UK operators that have set out a solid plan for withdrawing 2G services and as such it’s likely to be around for a good few years yet, although the same cannot be said for 3G.

Report Summary

We support the view that 3G sunset for all UK operators is likely to occur ahead of the 2G sunset, although the transition of voice services away from 2G/3G to 4G Voice over LTE (VoLTE) may delay the 3G switch-off date, depending on the rate of user transition to VoLTE-capable phones. Until VoLTE is universal, there will be a need for 4G circuit-switched fallback (CSFB) to 2G or 3G networks. At present there is still a significant volume of non-VoLTE-enabled 4G devices relying on 2G/3G for voice.

The mobile industry expects that 3G sunset could take place in the next 2-3 years. 2G sunsets are probably unlikely to occur before the mid-2020s and possibly the early 2030s. There are two key determinants for these dates. One, how the two specific and prescriptive requirements evolve – these being the smart meter network and the eCall service – which share similar asset lives. And two, the development and national deployment (by the MNOs and others) of replacement M2M radio access technologies – in effect, what will be able to replace today’s 2G M2M services at equivalent levels of coverage, cost and ecosystem support. Consumers should probably have 1-2 years’ notice to replace their mobile devices, supported by information campaign, and possibly offers from the MNOs to encourage changeover to a newer device. The M2M market will be best served with 3-5 years’ notice and the MNOs will need to dedicate resources to help guide these ecosystems into being able to support the replacement technologies.

MNOs have already refarmed 2G spectrum to meet demand for newer technologies such as 4G, and this will continue as demand from other access technologies grows. It is also possible that a single shared national 2G network could provide a long term solution if all of the technical, commercial and regulatory hurdles could be overcome.

Lessons learnt from overseas sunsets suggest the need for careful planning, clear communication, and ensuring that the affected users are a low percentage of the total base. These case studies also show the value of setting a clear date up to two years before sunset, during which no further new 2G devices can be activated. The UK should be able to benefit from the experiences of operators in Europe and North America, some of whom will switch off 2G at an earlier stage.

If planned and executed correctly, the implications of 2G services being withdrawn for all three  UK 2G networks should have minimal implications at the time of actual switch-off for each network. Despite potential media interest relating to the more vulnerable 2G users, MNOs and the ecosystems should be able to work together to ensure a smooth transition, at whatever stage each MNO decides to switch off its 2G network, or to transition to a shared network, should that approach be taken.

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Mark-Jackson
By Mark Jackson
Mark is a professional technology writer, IT consultant and computer engineer from Dorset (England), he also founded ISPreview in 1999 and enjoys analysing the latest telecoms and broadband developments. Find me on X (Twitter), Mastodon, Facebook, BlueSky, Threads.net and .
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15 Responses

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  1. Avatar photo Mark says:

    And areas which aren’t technically possible to switch off 2G, because masts haven’t been upgraded or can’t be upgraded because of backhaul costs? Looks like the nimbys might of shot themselves in the foot in a few years.

  2. Avatar photo Michael V says:

    VoLTE coverage has certainly improved the gaps between 3G-HSPA & 4G data networks. In places like mid west Wales. The Operators need to educate the customers as a simple phone upgrade is all it takes.
    Makes more sense to decommission 3G before 2G as stated, IoT is becoming more widespread.
    The Operators should just set a date & get on with it.

  3. Avatar photo Boris Johnson says:

    Switch off 2G (aka 56k modem) and 3G (aka 512k modem).

    1. Avatar photo James says:

      We’ll keep 4G (the 8mbps dsl)

    2. Avatar photo eM says:

      2G can do up to 384K, Prime Minister

  4. Avatar photo Brian says:

    Would need a change in attitude from mobile providers; to enable VoLTE on all 4G masts, rather than some; to make it available to MVNO customers as well as the main operators; and also to allow its use on all capable phones rather than just ones they supplied.

    1. Avatar photo Phil says:

      If the mobile industry hadn’t been in a rush to introduce 4G and actually sorted out VoLTE before hand they wouldn’t be stuck now with a mixture of standards for voice over 4G and a high percentage of mobile phones in the field that only support data (and not voice) on 4G.

      The same is now happening on 5G as I think its the identical situation, 5G is data only.

      They only have themselves to blame for having to maintain older standard for far longer than they need have.

    2. Avatar photo dave says:

      Also PAYG sim cards can’t make calls via VoLTE only contract sim cards. There are hardly any low cost VoLTE enabled phones, almost all feature phones only support 2g/3g.

  5. Avatar photo dave says:

    Three can’t switch off their 2G, they never had any.

    1. Avatar photo Mark says:

      Technically not,they used Orange the EE 2G which we still have on old telegraph pole style mast.no three coverage here.

  6. Avatar photo eM says:

    I heard AT&T in the USA already switched off their 2G a few years ago. 2G-only phones, like the first iPhone, can’t connect to their network.

    1. Avatar photo Chris says:

      Correct, in the US and Australia plus a few other places, 2G is being turned off before 3G.
      However in the majority of the rest of the world, it’s the other way round. 2G will outlive 3G.

  7. Avatar photo Jamie Powell says:

    how can 3 turn off their 2g/ what garbage? they never had their own 2g network and they don’t offer 2g!

  8. Avatar photo Charlie says:

    I definitely don’t want 2G turning off, I use it!

    I use 2G, or rather my tracker mounted to my bicycle uses 2G to transmit its location. Should it get stolen (I’ve had two go before I fitted these) I should be able to locate and take appropriate action. I’ve done this once already, it works!

    I have no idea how many of these devices are out there in the UK but there must be quite a few

  9. Avatar photo Mike Moretron says:

    Lets not forget things like GPS car trackers (they use 2g to send location text messages and for programming. Not many 3g trackers at the moment and no 4g trackers.) Also, there are emergency pendants used by the elderly that utilise 2g to notify carers, family etc using both text and voice calls. I foresee quite a few problems if the 2g network is turned off.

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