In order to explain what the 3G Sunset is, it’s important to understand the evolution of mobile broadband.
It’s hard to believe there was a time when we didn’t have smartphones or instant access to information. The evolution of this technology along with the continuous enhancements actually started during the early 80s.
The 1G technology came from Japan in the early 1980s (think chunky car phones). The network was analog and only supported voice calls. If you remember “dropped calls” and calling the operator for credits and paying $2.00 or more per minute, then you remember 1G technology.
The 2G technology introduced in the early 1990s brought about hand held cell phones that were able to support voice calls, text messaging and picture messages. SMS text messaging became the popular alternative to making voice calls with younger adults.
The 3G technology emerged in the early 2000s. This mobile broadband technology brought about the smart phone of today with the added ability to also search the internet and the introduction to authentication at much faster speeds. In 2007, Apple introduced the first iPhone and the world to touchscreen operation using 3G technology.
The 4G technology emerged in 2010 reaching speeds of 1Gbps (Gigabit per second) and the 4G or LTE (Long Term Evolution) technology brought with it, video conferencing, 3D television, gaming, and high definition mobile TV.
The 5G technology will bring even faster speeds and longer battery life in the early 2020s. This technology was mainly developed for commercial use, enterprise applications and business communications and yes for the consumer as well. Think smart cars, smart cities and interconnected governments which will bring increased security and safety that can only be communicated in real-time with high-speed data transmission.
5G will change the way we transmit data and interact with machinery, automation and our daily lives to improve certain processes in real-time.
Each new generation (G) of technology requires the repurposing of spectrum or airwaves to pave the way for faster more reliable mobile broadband. Generational changes in technology also require changes in infrastructure (upgrades to towers), requiring any form of cellular transmitters to be upgraded so they are able to send and receive signals. Just as 1G and 2G technology had been replaced with the introduction of 3G technology, 4G towers are being installed requiring 3G towers to be deactivated. Anything not using 4G technology will not be able to connect and send signals.
The 3G Sunset is the term the carriers use for making the switch from 3G to 4G (and 5G LTE Long term Evolution). Once the switch is started, carriers will stop supporting the devices that are currently using a 3G network. This means those devices will no longer work! The sunset date varies by region and carrier, but will be completed by 2022.
Many (but not all) home security systems communicate through broadband technology. Many of the systems installed by HS Tech Group prior to early 2018 were on the 3G network. Without a radio upgrade to 4G LTE, your system will be unable to communicate with the Central Monitoring Station. Your system will still function and sound a local alarm, but may not be able to make that call for help if your area has experienced the 3G sunset. This Sunset does not affect those systems that still use a POTS (Plain Old Telephone) line to communicate to the monitoring station and yes, we predicate at some point the FCC will sunset POTs lines as well, but for now, there are some still out there and working.
Just contact us at service@hstechgroup.com to inquire if you need the upgrade. The switch is easy… Call us today 888.947.8476 X2003
AT&T https://www.business.att.com/content/dam/attbusiness/briefs/3G-faq-messaging.pdf
Verizon Shutdown https://www.lightreading.com/mobile/3g-hspa/verizon-delays-3g-network-shutdown/d/d-id/753147
Wireless News https://www.rcrwireless.com/20190410/5g/the-3g-network-sunset-and-its-implications-for-iot
Major Carrier Sunsets https://usatcorp.com/anticipated-cellular-carriers-2g-3g-sunset-dates/
