When can we expect 2G to be switched off

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DarkShadow

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#129387 13-Sep-2013 14:31

So I'm still using a Nokia phone and was wondering how long I can keep on using it. What are the plans for 2G networks in this country?

sbiddle

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#895254 13-Sep-2013 14:31

If I was a betting person I'd pick Vodafone dumping GSM sometime around 2020

johnr

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#895269 13-Sep-2013 14:33

Vodafone are still turning on new GSM / 2G sites now even this week, So years away yet I would say further out than 2020

sbiddle

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#895277 13-Sep-2013 14:41

Vodafone also have one of the world's biggest M2M telemetry networks with the deployment of smart power meters which are all GSM.

antoniosk

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#895305 13-Sep-2013 15:25

sbiddle: Vodafone also have one of the world's biggest M2M telemetry networks with the deployment of smart power meters which are all GSM.

yep. Why would you load up a 3/4G network with telemetry data and not stick it on your gprs network.... it's just tiny transactions....

________

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wellygary

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#895317 13-Sep-2013 15:40

antoniosk:
sbiddle: Vodafone also have one of the world's biggest M2M telemetry networks with the deployment of smart power meters which are all GSM.

yep. Why would you load up a 3/4G network with telemetry data and not stick it on your gprs network.... it's just tiny transactions....

Double Yep, as the humans move out, the machines move in. Smart meters, parking meters, you name it they are all on 2G just checking in from time to time,

Your 2G phone is quite safe for a long while.....

old3eyes

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#895409 13-Sep-2013 19:03

johnr: Vodafone are still turning on new GSM / 2G sites now even this week, So years away yet I would say further out than 2020

And in the US AT&T is starting to shut down their GSM services on the east cost. GSM is way past it's use by date..

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PaulBrislen

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#895413 13-Sep-2013 19:06

Single RAN solutions will throw in 2G for free in years to come... I don't think we'll switch it off for at least another 20 years and even then there will still be a telemetry service use for it.

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sbiddle

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#895430 13-Sep-2013 19:44

old3eyes:
johnr: Vodafone are still turning on new GSM / 2G sites now even this week, So years away yet I would say further out than 2020

And in the US AT&T is starting to shut down their GSM services on the east cost. GSM is way past it's use by date..

When you have a finite amount of spectrum it makes sense to do that, especially when it cab be refarmed for use by other technologies. AT&T are desperate for spectrum for 3G and LTE so it makes sense for them to shut down GSM since it makes up such a small % of their customer base.

I'm sure Vodafone can happily keep a single 900 GSM carrier running without feeling they need to use the spectrum elsewhere, especially with their single RAN solution which is vastly more efficient.