Out with the old and in with the new; the sun is setting on 3G. The 3G networks are being shut down to make room for 4G and 5G. These networks bring you better speeds and reliability but what does this mean for you and your fleet? The technology in your vehicles may run on 3G, which will soon be obsolete across all wireless carriers. It is time to start transitioning.
While there isn’t an exact date for the shutdown, we expect it to be final in early 2022, so it’s better to start the transition now. If the devices in your vehicles only run on 3G, you’ll have to upgrade your hardware. If your fleet is large, this may take some time. So where do you begin?
- Look at your hardware and get an idea of what you’re dealing with. Do they still run on 3G?
- If you are unsure if you are running on 3G devices, please contact OnPoint and we can help you identify this and work on next steps.
- This may be a good time to look at other upgrades as well. Was there a feature you were interested in? Add that to your list of requirements for your new hardware.
- Depending on the size of your fleet, installing your new hardware may take some time. OnPoint can assist with a plan to swap units into the newer devices as well. Generally installing the hardware in waves will help reduce the downtime for each vehicle but many fleets do this all at once if they can make it work efficiently.
It is perfectly normal that, after the struggles of 2020, everyone pushed the 3G sunset to the back of their minds. But now it is time to jump on board a new ship or be left without a paddle.
Technology changes all the time and if you work with solution providers like OnPoint, the changes will be as painless as possible so as to not negatively affect your business. In fact, with new features and functionality, you will likely find that you can get a better solution at an even lower cost than you are paying today. Again, the completion for the 3G sunset is estimated for the beginning of 2022, so now is the time to look ahead at what is best for your fleet. OnPoint is here to make this move from 3G swift with the goal of offering even greater ROI!
