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Preparing for the phase out of 2G/3G cellular

Cellular communication has enabled the rapid development of the Industrial Internet of Things over the last decade, which began with the early adoption of 2G by industrial data communications technology providers. Over the years, the rollout of 3G and 4G has provided increased data rates, lower latency, and greater availability around the globe for industrial sectors such as water, power and transportation. The success of these third and fourth generation cellular networks has paved the way for 5G, with much speculation as to how it will be adopted within the industrial market.

Robust Industrial Cellular Networks

2G & 3G services will be phased outHigh speed mobile connectivity with 4G4G & 5G will coexist for many years Be prepared for the switch off

In this white paper, we discuss the imminent sunset of 2G & 3G around the globe. Utilising the current 4G infrastructure and preparing for 5G will help organisations prepare for the phase out, ensuring no interruption to vital and critical infrastructure.

communications

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Since being formed in 1975, Westermo has designed and manufactured data communications products for mission-critical systems installed in demanding industrial environments. Our products are used in social infrastructure, such as transport, water, and energy supplies, as well as in process industries, such as mining and petrochemical. Over the years, we have gained unique experience and deep knowledge of how networks function and how they are affected by environmental parameters such as temperature, moisture, vibration, and electrical interference. Although most industrial networks are unique, we have realised that regardless of industry, they all have the same basic requirement to be robust and provide reliable operation over a long period of time.

Let us introduce ourselves

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The 2G/3G sunset

In many countries the radio spectrum is highly regulated, with small portions of frequencies sold for vast sums of money to mobile network operators (MNO), enabling cellular devices access to the internet. Licence auctions frequently happen prior to new technology being adopted for the market, enabling MNOs to install the necessary equipment to supply demand.With widespread adoption of 4G technology and services and the growing availability of 5G products and services around the world, older technologies (2G and 3G) are now slowly being turned off. For example, in Australia, Vodafone shut off its 2G GSM services back in 2018 to enable greater availability of the 3G/4G network1 and Telstra is now proposing the 3G network be shut down by 2024 to make

In this white paper we provide several

recommendations to help prepare your

organisation for the ensuing 2G/3G sunset.

room for 5G2. In South Korea, the countrywide 2G shut-off began in 20203 and in many other countries, such as the UK, there is speculation and uncertainty as to when networks will be shut off. The shut-down of most 2G and 3G services, known as ‘the 2G/3G sunset’, is widely expected to take place by the end of the decade. This means that over the next few years businesses will need to consider migrating to a newer cellular network and update their systems accordingly. For many, that will be 4G, which is already one of the most widely available and cost-effective global cellular network services. In 2019, more than 50% of mobile connections used globally were 4G4, but despite this, coverage is still not yet 100 %. Further investment in the 4G network is required, especially in rural areas.

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At the moment there is a lot of unclear and indefinite information concerning when and which services will be turned off, and this may result in decisions to purchase products or technologies being made in haste. In the UK, the MNOs are regulated by Ofcom and in a response to a freedom of information request it received in June 2020, it stated that MNOs “...have certain coverage obligations, including for voice coverage, but these do not require the MNO (i.e. EE, Vodafone, O2 and Three) to deliver or maintain a service via any specific technology or spectrum.”

As of Q1 2021, there has been no official announcement from UK MNOs about a 2G/3G switch-off, which was seen in countries such as Australia for the 2G switch-off in 2018. Within the UK media there has been much speculation and conflicting information about the 2G and 3G shut-off, with suggestion that this may take place in the next few years. A shutdown is going to happen, but the question is when.

For the public switched telephone network (PSTN) switch-off in the UK, BT (an internet service provider) itself had provided an official press release6, supported by Ofcom7, outlining that PSTNs will be switched off by 2025.

Germany switched off its ISDN network in 2018 to create the way for an all IP network. To ensure that users still had access to ‘analogue lines’, boxes on the street supplied an IP backbone to the ISP, with the last meters kept as a connection for existing telephones8. This has enabled customers to prepare for a ‘switch-off ’ and migrate to a fixed line replacement (ADSL/VDSL). For companies to be prepared for the 2G/3G sunset, MNOs will surely need to advise a timeline to enable their customers to prepare. Due to the lower data rates, higher latency and limita-tions of the 2G network, most installations use either serial communications or to a lesser extent IP communications. Despite 3G communications offering greater functionality, there are some suggestions that that 3G networks may be disabled before 2G. The reason for this may be due to the tremendous success of 2G, which is still considered critical to infrastructure.

MNO = Mobile Network Operator

Check with your MNO

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Impact of a 2G/3G shutdown

Understanding the impact of a 2G and 3G shutdown on your systemSouth Korea’s 2G network recently turned 25 years old, with many users, especially in the world of industrial data communications, using this technology to connect legacy equipment from a large number of remote sites. The argument that ‘if it’s not broken, then don’t fix it’ is one that is used by many system administrators and specifically those involved in procurement, since replacing a large number of devices that only use 2G can be a costly exercise.

However, the migration to 4G-enabled devices has its benefits. 4G-enabled devices usually support all cellular technologies, including 2G and 3G, due to the cellular chipset being built into the device. This means that if a 2G-only device is replaced by a 4G-enabled device it can use those additional services should 4G not be available in the area. That allows standardisation of networking equipment while using multiple cellular networks.

If legacy equipment is still fit for purpose, but the supporting communications network is moving to an IP-based system, there may be an option to just upgrade the data communications equipment. Most industrial cellular devices include a serial interface as well as Ethernet, which means only part of the overall system is replaced, helping to make considerable cost savings.

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Understanding the technol gy

4G, frequently referred to as long-term evolution (LTE), has far exceeded the expectations that 3G failed to live up to. It has provided a perfect environment for immediate access and high-speed connectivity to the internet for social media, entertainment and better accessibility to remote sites. The strength and success of 4G is due to the broad use of the radio spectrum. The 800 MHz range provides a much larger coverage area than 3G, helping to reach remote areas like 2G achieved, but with much greater data rates. When combined with the use of 2.3 GHz and 2.6 GHz frequencies, this also increased bandwidth in denser areas, such as towns and cities.

However, a network connection is only as fast as the slowest link. If the cellular chip in a device does not meet certain requirements, despite over the air availability, data rates and performance plummet. Weaker cellular chips can also affect the received signal strength indicator (RSSI) and the reference signal received quality (RSRQ), both of which impact quality and performance.

4G has a set of user equipment (UE) categories and class definitions to ensure that base stations, nodes and user equipment can communicate correctly. At present, there are 20 categories in total.

For example, LTE CAT-UE 1 equipment has a maximum data rate of 10 Mbit/s and uses one antenna. Industrial grade cellular equipment, such as the Westermo MRD-455 4G cellular router, is an LTE CAT-UE 4 device enabling two antennas and increased theoretical data rates of 100 Mbit/s. For applications such as on-board passenger Wi-Fi, where multiple users browse the internet simultaneously, LTE CAT-UE 12 devices that support multiple antennas would be required. Westermo’s Ibex-RT-630 LTW and WLAN router is a CAT-UE 12 device and supports theoretical data rates that exceed 600 Mbit/s over the 4G network, making it ideal for high capacity network use.

It is important to understand the specific requirements for your system. Lower grade CAT-UE 1 devices limit the larger potential that 4G inherently offers, which is why CAT-UE 4 and CAT-UE 12 devices are better suited and commonly used in industrial applications.

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Next generation technology

Despite the promise of 5G, 4G will provide those migrating from 2G and 3G with a replacement service for the next decade, with 4G and 5G expected to coexist, as the other services have done for many years.

The potential of 5G is huge. In the UK, 5G is utilising part of the radio spectrum that was previously used to deliver TV broadcasts, as well as using the 3.4 GHz and 3.8 GHz range to provide coverage similar to 4G in the cities. It is worth noting, however, that because some parts of 5G uses higher frequencies, additional cell towers will be required to ensure optimum coverage. It took many years for 4G to offer great coverage in many countries, with the initial focus on cities before a countrywide rollout took place. As of now, 5G does not provide an immediate replacement for the well-established 4G service. 5G chip sets are still in the early development stage and it will take years before comfortably coexisting with 4G.

On the other hand, the United States and South Korea 5G rollout has far exceeded that of Europe10. The US is expected to have 5G coverage for 80% of the population this year (2021), although performance and coverage will likely remain inconsistent for the foreseeable future11.

5G is not the only new cellular network available. In some European countries, private LTE networks, such as LTE450 and LTE-M450 are available, which utilise parts of the radio spectrum to provide 4G data rates on lower frequencies. Industrial devices using these services are being used to connect remote technology in applications such as substations.

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Are you prepared for a switch-off?

The transition from 2G and 3G to the next generation of cellular networks is not going to happen overnight and MNOs have a responsibility to inform their customers when these services will be shut off. The ‘digital switchover’ in the UK, where analogue TV signals were switched off and replaced by digital signals, started in 2005 and was completed in 201212. This featured a huge marketing campaign and local investment to enable this transition to be as smooth as possible. However, MNOs around the globe will turn off 2G and 3G in the near future and it is important to be prepared.

Migration to a new communications technology will create capital and projects costs in the short term, but the possibility to gather more data than ever before, and then do more with it, will help to drive profitability in the long term. Current and next generation services, such as 4G and 5G, pave the way for high speed and low latency networks that are perfect for Industrial IoT, M2M and real-time data collection. The mass deployment of 4G worldwide has provided businesses with significant opportunities to improve performance and 5G will expand those opportunities even further.

1 https://www.vodafone.com.au/media/vodafone-to-switch-off-2g-network-next-year2 https://www.smh.com.au/technology/the-end-is-nigh-for-telstra-s-3g-network-termination-set-for-2024-20191009-p52z0n.html3 https://en.yna.co.kr/view/AEN202006120061513204 https://www.gsma.com/r/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/GSMA-State-of-Mobile-Internet-Connectivity-Report-2020.pdf5 https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0027/196632/uk-2g-infrastructure-shutdown.pdf6 https://business.bt.com/insights/digital-transformation/uk-pstn-switch-off/7 https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0032/137966/future-fixed-telephone-services.pdf8 https://www.telekom.com/en/company/details/five-facts-about-the-ip-migration-5961109 https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0015/202065/5g-guide.pdf10 https://www.ft.com/content/d2fd9b8a-fddc-4c90-ad11-2d05c542d10b11 https://www.pwc.com/us/en/industries/tmt/5g.html12 https://www.sciencemuseum.org.uk/objects-and-stories/how-did-uk-switch-digital-television

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Westermo designs and manufactures data communications products for mission-critical systems in physically demanding environments as well as providing technical support services for long and trouble-free system lifetime. Development of both hardware and software takes place at our head office in Västerås, Sweden, and our products are manufactured in our high-tech electronics factory in Stora Sundby, Sweden.

Contact Westermo

For more information about Westermo’s solutions, services, and full product catalogue, visit www.westermo.com. To discuss anything related to reliable mission-critical networks, please contact your local Westermo office or distribution partner. Find your contact at www.westermo.com/contact/where-to-buy.

We can help!

This white paper is written by:

Ant Lane

Field Technician Support Westermo UK

The recommendations in this document are based on deep knowledge of industrial data communications technologies and hands-on experience from supporting many different customer applications.