While operators in many markets will continue to invest in maintaining and upgrading 2G networks for the foreseeable future, operators in other markets have already begun to cap existing 2G services and are transitioning to 3G and 4G technologies.
For companies with global deployments, there is no single right answer. The best option is to focus on solutions that allow for reuse of development, testing and certification efforts in multiple markets and operator networks, regardless of wireless access technology.
Strengths and weaknesses of 2G, 3G and 4G
Understanding where 2G fits
There are several varieties of 2G for GSM and CDMA networks, including GPRS and EDGE, which range from 56 Kbps to several hundred Kbps. The main strength of these technologies is that they are mature, proven, widely deployed and very inexpensive compared to 3G and 4G/LTE. However, they offer lower bandwidth and higher latency as well as facing the threat of discontinued service in the future in certain markets.
2G services are more than adequate for many machine-to-machine (M2M) applications such as smart meters, personal healthcare devices, industrial equipment, vending machines and other types of devices that transmit a very small amount of data.
Many M2M applications – especially large metering, home security and industrial projects – have products that are expected to last in the field for 10 or 15 years. Given the massive cost of upgrading devices in the field, companies may want to consider migrating to 3G or 4G today, even if they do not need the additional bandwidth.
Understanding where 3G fits
GSM and CDMA networks belonging to the third generation offer higher bandwidth, lower latency cellular broadband ranging from 200 Kbps to several Mbps. They are proven, reliable, widely deployed, have greater longevity compared to 2G, and are relatively inexpensive compared to 4G at the expense of substantially lower bandwidth and latency.
Remote or mobile network connectivity, point-of-sale or ATM terminals, digital signage and mobile emergency services are all well suited to 3G networks.
However, as the Internet of Things (IoT) space evolves, with more products being monitored and controlled remotely – and with companies being able to take advantage of all this data to offer new services and transform their business models – they should consider migrating to 4G today, to meet future bandwidth requirements associated with new service offerings.
Understanding where 4G fits
Services advertised as 4G today encompass several different technologies, including 4G HSPA+ and 4G LTE that range from 100 Mpbs to 1 Gbps. They not only offer substantially higher data rates, they are also more efficient, provide better penetration into buildings, and exhibit a fraction of the latency of previous 2G and 3G technologies. The downside is that they are presently less widespread and much more expensive than 2G and 3G.
4G is ideal for demanding video surveillance, info entertainment, and mission-critical networking applications. In addition to the speed, responsiveness and performance to support applications that were never possible before, 4G LTE can provide a superior user experience compared to previous-generation technologies. Companies developing M2M solutions must weigh those benefits against the higher costs and added complexity of LTE products that must support additional frequency bands.
Considerations for scaling up from 2G
The global 2G market landscape
Globally, 2G networks are still going strong, supporting millions of customers and M2M devices, and will likely continue doing so for many years. However, it is clear that 2G services have reached a transition point in certain markets.
Europe, Latin America, Russia, the Middle East, Africa and Asia continue to see investment and expansion of their 2G networks with no sign of slowing down anytime soon. But there will come a time at some point in the future when companies need to begin thinking about scaling beyond 2G-exclusive products.
North America, Australia, South Korea and Japan have already capped 2G services and begun re-farming that wireless spectrum, and the GSMA reports that most advanced LTE operators in the United States and Australia will have entirely migrated their 2G-only connection bases to 3G or 4G by 2020.
Companies developing IoT and M2M applications, especially those building solutions for longer-term deployments, need to evaluate whether or not it makes sense to begin migrating from 2G to 3G or 4G LTE.
When to begin planning to support 3G and 4G services
For many companies, especially in European, Latin American, Asian, African and Middle Eastern markets, it makes good business sense to continue using 2G technology today while it is still widely available and inexpensive. However, now is the time to be designing new systems with scalability in mind.
Selecting wireless technology with pin-to-pin compatibility among 2G, 3G and 4G modules is a must, so when required to upgrade from 2G services in the future, the wireless module can simply be replaced rather than designing a whole new system.
Prime examples of M2M applications where this should be considered are those that may not need 3G data rates or latency, but do need to be operational in the field for 10 to 15 years; and those operating in multiple markets that require different cellular technologies (2G, 3G or 4G) with a single printed circuit board (PCB) and hardware footprint for all customers, and a single R&D and testing effort.
Taking advantage of backward compatibility
Most 3G devices are designed to fall back to 2G service if 3G is not available; they can operate on both 2G and 3G networks. As a result, companies can take the approach of using a 3G module in their devices today, even when deployed over a 2G network.
This provides greater long-term flexibility, especially in regions that are actively moving low-bandwidth M2M customers to 3G, as businesses can switch from 2G to 3G in the future without having to upgrade hardware in the field. Effectively, it allows companies to sidestep the question of 2G versus 3G entirely, since their solution will support both.
The same is true for 4G LTE with devices falling back on older 3G and 2G technology if the service is temporarily down or unavailable in a given market area.
Considerations to future-proof products and solutions
Hardware criteria
To streamline development, expedite operator certification and reduce time-to-market, precertified modules should be used. For international deployments, vendors that can offer pre-certified modules for multiple networks and markets should be preferred. This not only speeds the development process, it suggests a wireless partner with deep knowledge of various carrier networks and cellular markets.
In order to simplify product design and reduce development costs and timelines, companies should look for embedded module solutions that use the same form factor across 2G, 3G and 4G networks. These solutions will enable them to address many different markets more cost effectively, and easily migrate solutions in the future between technologies.
Modules that can support demanding M2M applications and provide long life spans, even in harsh outdoor conditions, are beneficial. Options should include modules that meet industrial-grade specifications for extreme environmental conditions of shock, corrosion, temperature, vibration and humidity.
The highest-quality, smallest form-factor cellular modules represent the best solution, particularly when designed according to accepted industry best practices across 2G, 3G and 4G technologies. This includes sound RF and antenna design to assure reliable connect-ivity and performance, efficient power management and proper design for heat dissipation.
Software criteria
Partners that offer advanced software development frameworks are ideal, with the ability to run sophisticated applications in the wireless module itself. A well designed software framework should be based on standard development languages and provide easy-to-use development tools. It should also offer the possibility of software reuse when migrating to a new technology, allowing businesses in some cases to design an application once for a 2G solution and port it to a new 3G, multi-mode or 4G LTE module when they upgrade in the future.
Designers should choose cellular modules (like Sierra Wireless’ HL series) that offer secure firmware upgrades over-the-air (OTA) to ensure that products always have the latest features and capabilities, without having to physically touch deployed devices. Cellular modules should support patch updates rather than requiring the device to replace the entire firmware package for each update; this can represent huge cost savings for large-scale deployments.
Deployment criteria
The best choice is wireless ecosystem partners that can provide assistance through every stage in the process of developing an M2M solution, including design, field testing, certification and beyond.
To simplify the deployment and ongoing operation of their application, companies should seek out partners that have extensive experience remotely managing hundreds of thousands, if not millions, of M2M devices in the field. M2M management platforms should include:
• Comprehensive firmware OTA management solutions to address the full lifecycle of devices deployed in the field.
• Remote configuration and management tools to set or change parameters and remotely troubleshoot potential connectivity issues.
• Cloud-based service delivery to simplify adoption, reduce costs and ensure that the latest security standards are implemented.
• An operations portal to monitor M2M devices and automatically send alerts when problems are detected.
• Application programming interfaces (API) to link data from the M2M management platform with an organisation’s back-end applications and user interfaces.
How Sierra Wireless can help
The choices that OEMs and enterprises make when selecting wireless ecosystem partners can make a major difference in their ability to develop scalable long-term solutions and transition to new cellular technologies. With more than 80 million modules deployed and number one M2M market share globally (according to ABI Research), Sierra Wireless is positioned to help customers deploy their products over any cellular network in any market with expert guidance and solutions that support a seamless migration path.
The company has also developed certification laboratories, as well as cellular and OTA management testing equipment, to support precertification efforts and provide expert certification resources to customers. This level of support is especially important as companies migrate to newer 4G LTE services.
For more information contact Gyula Wendler, Arrow Altech Distribution, +27 (0)11 923 9600, [email protected], www.arrow.altech.co.za
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