Machine to machine (M2M) solutions are only as strong as the connectivity behind them. Some environments call for low-range connections, which is where Bluetooth, Wi-Fi and ZigBee (News - Alert) come in. Other M2M situations have more long-distance and reliability requirements, which brings cellular networks into play. However, there has been some debate between 2G and 4G LTE (News - Alert) networks, as some carriers are expanding their 2G efforts but others are dropping them.
Different use cases require different networks; companies involved in video, advertising, digital signage or public safety are examples of companies that require high-speed and quality connections. Other areas, such as connected transportation, asset tracking, metering and monitoring don’t consume a lot of power and don’t require a lot of bandwidth, so why pay for the overhead, cost and energy of 4G LTE networks?
The transition of carriers deciding to drop or push 2G affects most companies using M2M technologies, as more than 90 percent of connections are on older 2G networks. The largest 2G North American GSM Network will be fully decommissioned by January 1, 2017 and no new device activations are allowed starting in April of 2014.
Shutting down 2G networks makes sense in terms of cost savings, the demand for higher network speeds and the need to free up valuable spectrum for next-generation services. But shutting down 2G networks ignores the enterprise providers of M2M services, and the cost and complexity of migrating those M2M solutions to a new network.
If you have any 2G GSM M2M devices currently deployed, it’s critical to learn your options and the impact of this network shift. In an upcoming webinar, “Facts about the 2G GSM Sunset in North American For Companies using M2M/IoT Technologies,” Multi-Tech (News - Alert) Systems and KORE will discuss the affected networks and published timelines, options for preparing for the transition, answers to common questions relating to the transition and a seamless approach to the 2G to 3G transition.
The webinar will be held Tuesday, Feb. 25, 2014 2 p.m. EST/11 PST. Click here to register.
Edited by Ryan Sartor