In New Zealand, 3G network shut down by the end of March 2025

Forums › New Zealand Mobile and Wireless › In New Zealand, 3G network shut down by the end of March 2025

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#3290447 3-Oct-2024 12:53

old3eyes:

Sounds like Windows 10 end of life but for the telco industry. "Shutdown 3G and we'll sell bucketloads of new phones"

@old3eyes far from it they want the specturm for 4G & 5G capacity

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#3290452 3-Oct-2024 13:21

Technofreak:

I'd suggest one big reason is a lot of Android phones sell at a price point well below an iPhone. At that price point it's most likely not viable to put the hardware and memory needed to support worldwide profiles as Apple does for their phones.

I think you are right just looked at my phone and my "iOS" is 10.99GB and "System Data" is 11.57GB

Android will be a fraction of that

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#3290454 3-Oct-2024 13:31

geoffwnz:

However, the two SMS alarm modules in my vehicles probably are not. So does that mean that when they shut down 3G, I will no longer be able to get text messages if something happens to my vehicles?

Or does this only affect calls, which I can currently make to the systems to test them.

If those modules in your vehicles are 3G only, they will be paperweights in 2025

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#3290462 3-Oct-2024 13:51

nztim:

geoffwnz:

However, the two SMS alarm modules in my vehicles probably are not. So does that mean that when they shut down 3G, I will no longer be able to get text messages if something happens to my vehicles?

Or does this only affect calls, which I can currently make to the systems to test them.

If those modules in your vehicles are 3G only, they will be paperweights in 2025

No idea and the installer is no longer operating.

I'll have to do some investigating.

They don't weigh much so won't hold much paper in Wellington. ;-)

MotorDrive Rallying

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#3290465 3-Oct-2024 13:56

KiwiSurfer:

Costco has their own OneNZ in-building site so LTE phones on One attach to that.

2degrees site is quite close though so I'd be surprised if UMTS doesn't work inside Costco.

My second sim in my 4g/3g dual sim phone is 2degrees and it has no signal when in there. Not tried it as the primary data sim as I dont have a data plan on it except if I find I need it, which was only once over the last year when mighty mobile (one) did not have any signal for me.

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#3290554 3-Oct-2024 15:59

nztim: If those modules in your vehicles are 3G only, they will be paperweights in 2025

Some high-end home and business alarm systems have the same problem. Basically an upgrade from "Plain Old Telephone Systems" POTS alarm monitoring.

Some farmers also use SMS modems to turn on or off devices, like pumps Also called Remote Monitoring and Control. Farmers may be areas where internet connectivity is unreliable (can't used IoT).

Black box devices that can send real-time alerts via SMS, voice calls (or emails) when an alarm is triggered.

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#3290556 3-Oct-2024 16:10

kingdragonfly:

Some high-end home and business alarm systems have the same problem. Basically an upgrade from "Plain Old Telephone Systems" POTS alarm monitoring.

If the Alarm was updated in the last few years (when NEAX shutdowns were announced) then it will be a 4G alarm module

early adopters of home alarms may have 3G

My power meter was upgraded in 2017 and is 4G

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nova

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#3290557 3-Oct-2024 16:10

I'm curious what happens if a shop sells a phone that is not VoLTE compatible? Would the CGA cover it? For example, I could get this Google Pixel 3XL from Reebelo for $479 (which seems very expensive for such an old phone, but the point is will it work?):

https://reebelo.co.nz/collections/google-pixel-3-xl?storage=64GB&color=Just%20Black&condition=Excellent&batteryHealth=80&deliveryBy=undefined

Handle9

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#3290560 3-Oct-2024 16:12

nztim:

Technofreak:

I'd suggest one big reason is a lot of Android phones sell at a price point well below an iPhone. At that price point it's most likely not viable to put the hardware and memory needed to support worldwide profiles as Apple does for their phones.

I think you are right just looked at my phone and my "iOS" is 10.99GB and "System Data" is 11.57GB

Android will be a fraction of that

It's more than likely a market segmentation decision rather than a technical or cost one. Only providing the profiles required enables manufacturers to sell at different price points in different markets without worrying about grey imports.

If anything maintaining different images for each SKU would add costs due to the extra admin and supprt.

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#3290571 3-Oct-2024 16:31

wellygary:

"Any thoughts about New Zealand shut down of the 3G network?"

VOLTE compatibility in NZ is not a future 3G shutdown issue its happened already

But, given that many of the 500 new RCG sites ( which are VOLTE voice only) are in hig tourist areas If this was going to be a significant problem it would have likely already started to bubble up publicly ,

https://www.thercg.co.nz/

I'd expect those areas will still have 3G availability. Anyone without the correct VoLTE profiles is unlikely to notice right now. They will just roll back to 3G for voice.

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Behodar

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#3290575 3-Oct-2024 16:36

I believe the RCG sites are LTE-only.

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#3290576 3-Oct-2024 16:36

kingdragonfly:
nztim: If those modules in your vehicles are 3G only, they will be paperweights in 2025

Some high-end home and business alarm systems have the same problem. Basically an upgrade from "Plain Old Telephone Systems" POTS alarm monitoring.

Some farmers also use SMS modems to turn on or off devices, like pumps Also called Remote Monitoring and Control. Farmers may be areas where internet connectivity is unreliable (can't used IoT).

Black box devices that can send real-time alerts via SMS, voice calls (or emails) when an alarm is triggered.

SMS modem

GSM auto-dialler

GSM alarm communicator

All use cases that IoT and LoRaWAN are targeting, I believe. In almost all of those instances, there will be some sort of low powered 4G/5G/CAT-M/LoRaWAN replacement. If you're in a place where none of the carrier deployed technologies can reach, you either get a bigger antenna or deploy your own last mile connectivity.

Anything I say is the ramblings of an ill informed, opinionated so-and-so, and not representative of any of my past, present or future employers, and is also probably best disregarded.

richms

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#3290577 3-Oct-2024 16:37

Technofreak:

I'd expect those areas will still have 3G availability. Anyone without the correct VoLTE profiles is unlikely to notice right now. They will just roll back to 3G for voice.

No, there is nothing other than the 4G rural service in the areas.

The big concern the Aussies seem to have is that the roaming onto another network to make an emergency call over VoLTE thing basically doesnt work, and they have huge areas with only one carriers network available. RBI sites dont have that issue as its all good for all 3 networks users to connect to.

Richard rich.ms