Navigating Impending Disruption
The end of a telecommunications era is coming – are your operations fully prepared ? Lessons from overseas for Fleet Operators .
WORDS BY WEBFLEET
Australia ’ s 3G telecommunications network is completely shutting down . It seems extreme , but as the telcos allocate additional resources to boost their 4G service capacity , 3G will be no more . Come December , Vodafone switches off its 3G network , and with Telstra following suit in June 2024 , it heralds the end of a telecommunications era for Australia .
While the 3G network shutdown is a victim of progress , the unfortunate reality for those of us involved with the management of vehicles is that losing 3G means many vehicle tracking , safety , and call-home devices , all crucial to effective fleet management , will simply cease to function .
Australia isn ’ t the first or only country to be turning off its 3G network – it ’ s happening worldwide as telcos move to expand support for newer 4G and 5G tech . Just recently in 2022 , the United States finished shutting down its
3G network , with major providers ending their support in a similar pattern to Australia .
Reviewing the US 3G shutdown serves as an important lighthouse for Australia ’ s fleet managers and operators as we seek to navigate the challenges of our own 3G shutdown .
A critical failure seen during the US shutdown was , surprisingly , a lack of due diligence and action . Many operators thought their telematics devices were already 4G capable and that the shutdown of 3G wouldn ’ t affect them . But , when the largest and final US 3G network , Verizon , shut down in December ‘ 22 , many operators across the country were suddenly and severely left in the dark .
The 3G blackout had substantial implications and consequences for operations across the US – all their vehicle monitoring tools simply ceased
18 ISSUE 41 JULY 2023 / WWW . AFMA . ORG . AU