There is an area of rural North Lancashire where mobile reception, at least for customers of Three Mobile, harks back to an era of brick-style devices with breadstick-shaped aerials.

When the connectivity status shows the H+ symbol, we are in effect seeing an offshoot from 3G connectivity, an iteration Three are due to close by the end of the current year. Whilst it can be argued, and it is by Three themselves, that this will precipitate improvements in 4 and 5G connectivity, the geographic area in question has comparatively been in the mobile roaming dark ages for the past twenty years, during which time receiving any form of signal was by no means a foregone conclusion.

Within the 3G umbrella sits H and H+, with High Speed Packet Access (H) supposedly affording customers improved data transfer rates than basic 3G connectivity. An enhanced service (H+) is theoretically an upgrade on both, aforementioned strands of third generation connectivity, bridging the gap between 4G, the level of connectivity that most modern day customers require, which itself offers LTE (Long Term Evolution) and LTE-A (Advanced) connectivity. However, the latter standard does not get close to fifth generation connectivity, just as H+ remains somewhat distant in realistic capabilities compared to 4G.

It is therefore perhaps ironic that Three Mobile, the original standard bearer for third generation connectivity, is offering a form of connectivity in the test location that in theory it should have done twenty years ago. In fact, the current level of service is the ‘best’ its customers have received in that particular area, two decades too late! Just a few miles to the south, the 3G symbol, indicating a basic connection, briefly popped up on the screen of a 5G device…

Vodafone, O2, EE, and Three all plan to end 3G operations by 2025, although most have scheduled to pull the plug by the end of the current year. This obviously also affects Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs), those providers who lease capacity from the big four operators, and includes the likes of Lebara, Smarty, and Giffgaff.

Despite the advent of 5G and now 5G+ connectivity, I firmly believe that the majority of domestic customers are sufficiently catered for by 4G LTE and LTE-A. The cost of implementing a comprehensive fifth generation network is prohibitive, but will unlikely be recouped from domestic customers accessing what are a limited number of use cases within a realistically priced monthly plan. The roll out of 5G in commercial settings is where the real paydirt can be found, and will in the end be the driving force behind an eventual sixth iteration of connectivity, some time after 2030.

Nevertheless, the Three Mobile coverage checker insists that the area of North Lancashire in question has ‘excellent 4G service’. This would seem to contradict the evidence of the local mast struggling to grind through its third generational gears.

With 3G through its ideals and reason for being having more in common with its successor, there are compelling reasons for it to moved off the telecommunications landscape, but should third generation connectivity be retained in the UK as a form of auxiliary back up, in the event of a nationwide outage or hack by a hostile actor? Or, will throwing in their lot with 4G, a standard that should now be seen as a default, safe haven of connectivity and an iteration that is likely to be with us for some time to come be seen as sufficient? I am inclined to take the latter view.

It is easy to forget that 2G, somewhat incongruously, continues to go strong. Whilst the number of mobile devices currently in use that rely on 2G is unclear, those procured as second or ‘burner’ phones are still readily available on the market. Whilst I cannot speak for those who for whatever reason possess devices with such limited capabilities, it is important to remember that smart meters installed in domestic households by utility companies run off a 2G network that entirely suits the hardware’s narrow, unchanging remit and data transfer requirements.

Quite what therefore will happen to tens of millions of smart meters when second generation connectivity is turned off in or by 2033 is unclear, but with most smart meters installed from the mid to late 2010s and with a realistic life expectancy of 10-15 years, there would appear to be, by accident or design, some synchronicity in both parties’ respective demises.

Whether still functioning smart meters can be retrofitted to run off 4G – could retaining 3G just for these purposes offer it an eleventh hour reprieve? – is something that could reduce electronic waste does not seem to be an issue that has been broached, but otherwise, the predicted loss of 2G coupled with an almost messianic drive to get a smart meter in every home looks to be another example of kicking the can down the road for another day.

The market has stormed ahead with fourth and particular fifth generation connectivity, with an almost snobbish attitude having developed towards its predecessors. Connectivity and use case issues remain, and perhaps remain unanswered or at best are ambiguously so, but for the time being at least, and despite insistence from Three Mobile regarding an area of North Lancashire, it appears that 2G and 3G still have a part to play in the overall ecosystem. Can it be categorically stated that mobile operators have adopted a belt and braces approach to covering all the reasons why second and third generation connectivity are still used? We will soon find out.

Leave a comment