Operators have jointly launched a campaign to inform the public and provide guidance on how best to navigate the transition
A new approach from operators in Sweden
At the end of January, the Swedish tech trade organisation TechSverige along with telecoms operators (Tele2, Telenor, Telia and Tre), launched a campaign to raise awareness that completion of 2G and 3G retirement is expected by the end of 2025. With operators looking to make more efficient use of their spectrum, 2G and 3G network sunsets are in motion around the world, and in some places already completed. The wide range of devices reliant on these legacy networks have meant that the shutdowns can be challenging. The potential for disruption to services, and need for replacement devices has led some regulators (e.g. the FCC in the US) to ask operators to delay switch-offs. Our research has found that among the biggest challenges that have been faced when phasing out these networks, comes down to poor communication between telecoms operators, service providers and their consumers. Operators in Sweden look to pre-empt this with a ‘Bytnät.nu’ (“switch network now”) campaign, just over a year after confirming the sunset date with the regulator (PTS). The aim is to inform and offer advice to the public and affected industries on how best to navigate the transition.
Opening up the lines of communication to consumers
The campaign highlights that with this sunset the 3G features on mobiles and other reliant devices (such as vehicles), will no longer function. To ease any confusion, the website lists potential equipment to be checked and any old router models that would need replacing. As operators appreciate that not all businesses will be aware of the effects of the switch-off, additional information has been provided to strengthen understanding. Emphasising that manufacturing of 2G and 3G reliant equipment is coming to a halt, the campaign encourages businesses to look at this switchover as an opportunity to digitise and future-proof. Building upon the centralised information hub, the website has an extensive Q&A with an option for submitting additional questions. Our research has not seen this scale of public communication (with a dedicated microsite) directly between consumers and operators in respect to retirement of mobile legacy networks. Similarly to Sweden, the UK has just under two years before the completion of the 3G network retirement.
Operators share responsibilities with affected industries
Looking at the wider ecosystem, operators have gone beyond informing their direct consumers and highlighted the impact switch-offs will have on wider industries and reliant services. The microsite provides information from entities responsible for a variety of industries. For example, the Swedish Association of Local Authorities and Regions (SKR), Lantmännens Riksförbund (a national agriculture confederation) have both collaborated with the campaign informing their respective industries of the transitions and offering recommendations to support the transition to 4G. These suggestions included taking an inventory, liaising with suppliers, and having an IT coordinator lead internal switchover projects. The approach to bring other industries into an early conversation forces manufacturers and service providers to take responsibility for their affected consumers, whilst also providing them ample time to put in motion a plan to best coordinate upgrades and replacements. This is in contrast to what was seen in the US 3G sunset, where the Alarm Industry Communications Committee rushed to upgrade and replace infrastructure, and car manufacturers' failure to inform consumers about the discontinued function of the 3G features leading to multiple lawsuits.
