2G/3G Network Sunset
In Arabicإيقاف شبكات الجيلين الثاني والثالث (2G/3G)
Mobile operators switching off their older 2G and 3G networks in stages, leaving trackers that support only those networks unable to send their data.
What is a 2G/3G network sunset in fleet management?
A network sunset is a mobile operator's decision to retire an older network generation, usually 2G (GSM) or 3G, to free its spectrum for 4G and 5G. It is announced in advance and often carried out region by region; many operators keep 2G longer than 3G, but neither will last.
For fleets the risk lies in the tracker: a unit that works only on the retired network simply goes silent. In the Gulf, the UAE scheduled the start of its 2G switch-off for the end of 2022, Saudi operators chose to retire 3G first, and Oman's telecoms regulator set a plan to phase out 3G starting in July 2024.
How it works
- 1Operator announces the switch-off date
- 2Network is shut down in stages
- 3Trackers relying on it go silent
Why does a 2G/3G network sunset matter in fleet management?
A tracker that stops reporting makes the vehicle look offline, but restarting it will not help; it has to be replaced. Discovered on the day of the switch-off, that means dozens of vehicles vanishing at once, with no alarms, no data for regulatory platforms such as WASL and no evidence for clients. Planned months ahead, the replacement fits into routine workshop visits.
What you gain
- No vehicles going dark
- Planned, budgeted replacements
- Trackers fit for years ahead
How does Safee help you prepare for a 2G/3G network sunset?
Safee stores each vehicle's tracker type and model with its IMEI and SIM number, so you can list the units that rely on 2G or 3G and replace them site by site. During the changeover, any tracker that falls silent stands out on the Monitoring page, and the Vehicle-device history Report records every swap. Vehicles working beyond mobile coverage can also be fitted with a satellite unit.
A field example
A quarry haulage company in Ras Al Khaimah runs 140 trucks, and 52 of them had older trackers that worked only on 2G. Its SIM provider confirmed the switch-off date four months ahead, so the fleet team listed the affected units by site and replaced them with LTE trackers during routine servicing, about 13 a month. On the day the network went off, no truck disappeared from the map and no technician was called out in a hurry.
Frequently asked questions
Can a 2G or 3G tracker be upgraded remotely to work on 4G?
No. The networks a tracker can use are fixed by the modem inside it, so the unit has to be replaced. Over-the-air configuration changes only settings and firmware.
Which network should a new tracker use?
An LTE unit, Cat 1 or LTE-M, suits most fleets today. NB-IoT is better suited to low-data sensors than to live tracking, and in remote areas a satellite unit can back up the mobile link.
Want to put this to work in your fleet?
Talk to a Safee fleet expert about your vehicles and how you operate, and we will suggest what fits.
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