Navigating the Spectrum Sunsetting Roadmap 2024-2040: Strategies for Cellular Technology Generations Sunset
The Spectrum Sunsetting Roadmap from 2024 to 2040 outlines strategies for phasing out older cellular technology generations. The mobile industry is facing challenges with network sunsetting, particularly with the reliance on 3G and 2G for legacy applications and processes. Issues with shutting down 2G networks have raised concerns about ensuring a smoother transition when it comes time to sunset 4G networks in approximately ten years.
Following the introduction of 4G in 2009, certain countries moved quickly to phase out 2G and 3G networks, especially if they didn't have many legacy applications or users still relying on them. Without pressure from stakeholders or regulators to keep older technologies, operators could save money on support and maintenance by discontinuing them, and also free up spectrum for newer technologies like 4G and 5G.
While the early versions of 1G were quickly replaced by digital voice and SMS texting, 2G has continued to be used in some markets for over 40 years since it was first launched in Finland in 1991. This shows that different markets have different reasons for retaining 2G technology, which are not always based on economic factors or revenue generation.
In general, 2G and 3G networks are not very profitable for operators, leading them to struggle with the decision of whether to keep these older technologies running or shut them down. While operators are not usually required to keep providing these services, they are hesitant to lose a large number of customers by discontinuing them.
This factor has resulted in the creation of packages that allow older generations of mobile networks to operate alongside 4G and 5G in a more cost-efficient manner. This is achieved through the sharing of base stations or spectrum, sometimes with the assistance of Open RAN technology. More details about these solutions will be provided later in the report.
Our research indicates that there is a significant variation in sunset times for 2G and 3G networks, and this trend is expected to continue for 4G networks in the 2030s. However, the extent of this variation is likely to be reduced as efforts are made to phase out older generations once the latest RAN technology is fully implemented.
In certain markets, the slow process of phasing out 2G and 3G technology has led to dissatisfaction among operators who are used to the usual 10 year cycle of upgrading cellular services to newer generations.
Certain telecommunications companies are advocating for a different approach with the introduction of 6G technology. They believe in allowing technology to evolve more organically, with obsolescence happening gradually and seamlessly, to avoid the disruptions typically seen during the phase-out of 2G networks.
In order to account for the different sunset dates and the upcoming closures of 4G networks, a forecast chart has been created spanning 30 years from 2011 to 2040. By 2011, most operators had already introduced 2G and 3G services, with 4G starting to emerge around the same time. The beginning of the red segment on the chart signifies the launch of 5G at different points from 2019 and beyond.
This forecast is the most recent one available in the RAN Research Archive, which currently contains:
Rethink Technology Research is a company that has built a reputation as an expert in the field of 5G, wireless technology, entertainment, streaming media, and the Internet of Things over the past 21 years. They have recently expanded into the energy market. The RAN Research team within the company focuses on wireless research, providing market predictions and technology reports.
Get the complete summary by downloading the full executive summary document.
More articles from various sources include Seed4.Me, a VPN for accessing blocked websites and protecting data, Singtel and Hitachi Digital teaming up to advance industrial AI solutions, NeoCortec showcasing a sensor to cloud solution at Embedded World 2024, VIAVI selecting ETS-Lindgren for an Anechoic Chamber at VALOR Lab, new wireless technologies for the Indian Army, u-blox introducing compact LTE Cat 1bis cellular modules for global connectivity, an interview with STMicroelectronics about their microcontroller innovations and low power MCUs, STMicroelectronics' commitment to fostering innovation and empowering edge AI, advancements in power electronics for aircraft electrification by STMicroelectronics, STM32 MCUs from STMicroelectronics supporting wireless connectivity, industrial network security for the future, EMITE and Rohde & Schwarz collaborating on OTA measurements, and congatec introducing new SMARC modules based on NXP.