At the beginning of March, Orange struck a blow by announcing the imminent extinction of its 2G and 3G networks. Orange’s 2G network available on French territory will therefore be shut down in 2025, while its 3G network will be closed by 2028. At European level, the incumbent operator also intends to close its 2G and 3G services in horizon 2030. If Orange’s competitors have not yet communicated on their intentions vis-à-vis their own old-generation mobile networks, the incumbent operator has justified this decision by the generalization of 4G throughout the territory.
“The shutdown of 2G and 3G will allow Orange to optimize the management of its networks and to evolve them towards more secure, resilient, energy-efficient and modern technologies such as 4G and 5G”, thus let it be known. the management of Orange at the beginning of March. The decision of the French operator follows those of various global players, including the American AT&T, which recently decided to close its own 2G and 3G services.
For the staff of the incumbent operator, the extinction of the 2G and 3G networks will allow a better “customer experience on mobile, with better voice quality via VoLTE technology, higher speed, lower latency and enhanced security, all without a major impact on offerings for almost all customers.”
Many devices still connected to 3G
As a reminder, the extinction of 2G is supported by various organizations, which point to the recurring security flaws on this network. With regard to 3G, its extinction should make it possible to free up frequencies for the deployment of 4G and – above all – 5G. Still, the closure of these two historic networks will not go without posing many problems. Many terminals – especially for professional use, such as mobile phones, alarm systems and GPS – still use them today.
According to the latest figures from Arcep, published this Thursday, April 7, France even had no less than 67.7 million active SIM cards on 3G networks at the end of 2021. The question then arises as to what will be the impact of these closures for the general public and the professionals who use them.
How to prepare for it? The editorial staff of ZDNet gives you a first draft on the precautions to take and how to prepare for the scheduled end of these two pieces of telecom history.
Will your phone still work after 3G goes out?
For most of the 3G era, smartphones allowed users to experience the joys of mobile web browsing, sharing viral videos, updating statuses and connecting with people around the world. entire. All of this is of course still possible thanks to 4G, 5G or Wi-Fi networks. However, some smartphones will then be obsolete.
This is particularly the case with the iPhone 3GS, which will no longer be able to make calls on 3G or send text messages. However, users of this device will still be able to connect to Wi-Fi to access internet applications.
How do I know if my smartphone is compatible with the latest generations of mobile technology? To know the answer to this question, the procedure to follow is simple. If you own a device running Android, just go to your settings, click Mobile Networks and go to the section Network mode, which will give you more information on the compatibility of your phone with the various existing mobile networks. If you have an iPhone, know that all models from the iPhone 5 are compatible with 4G.
Will 3G shutdown affect my car?
As well as ushering in the wireless connectivity revolution, 3G has played a fundamental role in the navigation and alarm systems we rely on in our daily travels. The extinction of 3G will therefore have a significant impact on roadside assistance and emergency alerts in the event of an accident. Many cars are also equipped with an SOS button which, when pressed, calls for first aid via 3G. This functionality should also be affected by the end of 3G.
Vehicles from many popular automakers released before 2019 are susceptible to the issues mentioned above. According to Roger Lanctot, director of automotive connected mobility at Strategy Analytics, the main reason why newer models are still equipped with 3G receivers is that car manufacturers save on manufacturing costs.
To stay ahead, you need to make sure your car supports or can get hardware upgrades to connect to 4G. As with smartphones, your best bet to stay informed is to check out your local car dealership. Although the modification may take the form of downloadable software or physical replacement parts, it will help keep your vehicle up to date and functional, especially in times of danger.
Will the extinction of 3G have an impact on the security of my home?
Over the past few decades, home security and alarm systems – especially individual ones – have relied heavily on 3G to communicate and monitor suspicious activity. With 3G shut down, that line of communication between your home and its service’s central monitoring station will be non-existent, leaving people living alone and the elderly vulnerable. However, with the health crisis, many security companies have already migrated their customers from 3G networks to 4G networks, in order to ensure that their services remain operational.
Unlike smartphones and cars, which require a complete teardown or upgrade, adding 4G functionality to security systems is as simple as having a technician install an external receiver (usually a box or sign). If you or someone close to you is subscribed to a security plan, you can contact their customer service to find out more about the transition of your services to 4G and 5G networks.
What other technologies will be affected?
Apart from the categories mentioned above, there are a plethora of gadgets and services that rely on the old network generation that you may not be aware of. If you own any of the following products, contact the manufacturer and ask about the next steps. Depending on the age of the product, you may be eligible for a hardware or software upgrade.
The extinction of 3G could have an impact on:
- medical alert devices (fall detectors, communicators, etc.);
- fire alarms;
- inventory trackers;
- connected watches;
- e-readers (Kindle, Nook, etc.);
- GPS trackers (including for pets);
- maritime security devices.