NZ 3G Sunset Countdown Slated For 2025.
NZ 3G Sunset Countdown – New Zealand’s 3G sunset countdown is on, with security installers having 12 months to transition end users to 4G and 5G services before the 3G shutdown.
Of the major telecommunications providers, 2degrees and Spark NZ will switch off 3G “late 2025”, One NZ has given a termination date of December 31, 2025. Given the sectional nature of Australia’s 3G shutdown, it’s certain New Zealand’s providers will also close their 3G networks in pieces.
Kiwi telcos are talking up the benefits of the switch, which from their point of view appropriates lower frequency bandwidths that are currently being used for 3G and redeploys them for 4G.
In the field, the benefits of 3G/4G are tough to generalise. Low frequency 3G typically has propagated much further than 4G, which is a big deal in Australia but may be less of a concern in many parts of NZ. 3G can also perform better in deep valleys, making tower coverage an important consideration.
This said, in Australia 4G signals are now being used further down the spectrum – 700 MHz, and this longer wavelength should travel much further. Undeniable benefits of 4G are packet switching and message switching and much greater bandwidth of up to 1 Gigabyte over 21 Megabytes for 3G. The higher tech of 4G means that it can continue to deliver in the face of interference, especially at the fringes of coverage.
In metro areas with large numbers of 5G towers the improvement in bandwith and network access is very noticeable, though in most cases security applications won’t need such turbo-charged performance to back up primary copper networks.
NZ providers point out that most users of mobile phones will not need to do anything all about the shutdown but they highlight the fact alarm systems, medi-alarms and vehicle trackers might be particularly impacted.
From the point of view of security installers, upgrading communicators is the perfect opportunity to enhance legacy security systems with new functionalities, whether these be sensors, or even complete controller replacement to take advantage of the latest app interfaces.
2degrees, Spark and One NZ say they will be in touch with 3G users over the next 12 months but their access to users of backup SIMs in alarm panels is likely to be patchy, or limited to reaching out to security providers who manage their systems, so you’ll need to plan ahead and be systematic.
You can contact 2degrees here, Spark here and One NZ here, or read more SEN news here.
“NZ 3G Sunset Countdown Slated For 2025.”
