3G Network Migration

When the 3G network is decommissioned, all 3G connectivity will cease.  Devices that utilise 3G will no longer be able to communicate. 

3G mobile, IoT and network extension devices, some EFTPOS machines, medical devices, and antennas that operate only on the 3G network, will no longer work after 30 June 2024.

Most organisations will know if they have 3G devices still in play, as the services can be seen on their carrier billing, and their carrier will have been contacting them regularly since 2019 advising these services will cease in June 2024.

The bigger problem for business is knowing where its 3G SIMs are, what devices they are being used in, whether the  devices are still in use, and what data is being transmitted. 

In most cases, a 3G SIM will be in a IoT device using only minimal data. They could even be in a 'passive ready' state becoming active only intermittently or when specific criteria is met. 

In most cases a 3G SIM will be in an IOT device.

These could include:

• medical alarms
• EFTPOS terminals
• industrial routers
• scanners
• security monitoring and alarms
• asset tracking devices
• environmental monitoring sensors
• telematics and vehicle/asset tracking devices installed in heavy and light vehicles, as well as general assets such as trailers, generators, etc.
• traffic management signs used in school zones, intersections and freeways
• weather systems and stations
• building entry systems

That will depend on what the devices are and what the are being used for.

Mobile phones will be simple to upgrade with a wide choice of models and price points. However, if you are using a Telstra Blue Tick 3G phone, you should ensure you upgrade to a Telstra Blue Tick 4G phone for continued coverage.

Manufacturers of IOT devices - scanners, gateways, routers, sensors - will have established an upgrade pathway. This may mean an OTA firmware update, or may require a replacement device.

If a device has to be replaced, this is an opportunity to consider alternative devices on the market as the security and benefits of IOT devices have improved significantly over the past 3-4 years.  

Each migration project will be different but we can standardise the way we approach the task.  Here are three easy steps to get moving...

Step 1 - Current State

Understanding what 3G devices you have in play, where they are, what data they are transmitting, what connectivity technology they are currently using. 

Step 2 - Solution Architecture

Once you know where your 3G devices are located and what data they are transmitting, there will be decision-making required to determine how the migration will take place.

• Can a firmware update allow the devices to remain in place with compatibility upgraded to include 4G or 5G?
• Will the devices need to be physically swapped out for a new compatible alternative?
• If the devices need to be swapped out, what are the replacement devices on the market and which is best suited to your requirements?
• How long will it take to procure new hardware, and how long to deploy it to site(s)?

Add in testing, cut-over management, monitoring and  reporting, and you can get a feel for how long this project could take.

Step 3 - Project Scope

Now get down to the nitty gritty of exactly how, when, and who will deploy this migration off 3G.

The timeframe of a 3G migration project will vary from case to case.

If you just need to upgrade a few 3G mobile phones, this should only take a few weeks to procure, enrol, and deploy. 

However, if you have a more complex migration of IOT sensors, gateway routers, or telematics devices this could easily take 3-4 months. 

If a re-evaluation of the IoT solution is required, or a redesign of the technical architecture, as well as hardware and equipment replacements in the field, a migration project would usually take 6-12 months - time we no longer have.

In locations that now only have a 3G signal, Telstra has committed to providing 4G coverage prior to the 3G network shutdown.

However, customers in this situation will still need to do their homework to be assured of continued coverage. 

Customers currently using a blue-tick 3G device will need a blue tick 4G device. 

This is one of the potential issues we foresee for some organisations.

Indoor mobile coverage is highly variable. Even where Telstra coverage maps show signal availability, the location, density and construction materials may degrade reception indoors.

It is not uncommon for 3G to be the only signal available inside some shops, restaurants, carparks and offices, even in the centre of our cities, and even when there is a strong 4G or 5G signal outdoors.

Telstra will be repurposing its 3G 850MHz spectrum to 5G.  However, a 5G signal is far less able to penetrate line-of-sight barriers, and it is highly unlikely a 5G signal will reach indoors to replace a 3Gg signal.

If you currently have only 3G indoor coverage, you may need to invest in an In-Building Coverage solution to amplify 4G or 5G signal throughout the building.

The Telstra 3G network also supports some hardware currently supplying in-building coverage. If you are using a 3G T-Go or Nextivity Cel-Fi Go, or a TMSA coverage extension device, you will need to upgrade to an equivalent 4G device to ensure coverage.

3G networks are being phased out across the world.

According to the GSMA, in 2023, 2G and 3G will account for only 21% of connections and by 2025, only 5% of users should still be on 3G.

The motivation for the shutdown is to enable the re-purposing of spectrum to 5G technologies.

USA - the 3G network has been decommissioned already by most carriers with Verizon the last and that expected before the end of 2023.

UK - While the government deadline to shut down is not until 2033, most carriers are decommissioning now. Vodafone, which is the largest telco with 18 million customers, has already begun and will complete its 3G shutdown by the end of 2023. EE (Everything Everywhere) will shutdown in 2024.

Canada - already completed shutdown

New Zealand - One New Zealand will shutdown in August 2024, while Spark and 2degrees will complete shutdown by the end of 2025.

Europe - Germany closed 2021. Denmark, Greece, Slovakia and Sweden by end 2023. 

Singapore - closed 2021.

Taiwan - first to close in 2020.

China - by end of 2024.