Telecommunications providers have begun shutting down 2G and 3G networks in the United States. This change may affect your counting system, so we wanted to talk to you about it.
In 2021, some older counters with 2G modems stopped being able to automatically transmit the data they collect. The same will happen with 3G modems in late 2022.
Here’s what’s happening:
- In 2008 we launched automatic data transmission, enabling our clients to receive their count data automatically without visiting the counters. It was possible because these counters had a modem connected to 2G or 3G cellular networks to transmit the count data.
- Today, U.S. carriers are shutting down their 2G and 3G networks in favor of 4G and 5G technologies. The exact sunset dates vary by network and region, but the fact is that most networks don’t guarantee 2G service anymore, and will stop guaranteeing 3G service after the end of this year.
- The affected counters will continue to collect and store data – the 2G and 3G shutdown only impact data transmission, which means you would have to visit the counter to retrieve the data via Bluetooth and Eco-Link.
What are the options for you?
Automatic transmission sends daily count data directly to our Eco-Visio software, saving your team the time and effort of going to each individual counter to manually extract and upload the data to the network. It also gives you instant access to all data and the option to set up alerts if the counters detect unusually low or high counts.
We know how important it is to keep data monitoring and analysis as easy and convenient as possible for you and your team. That’s why we want to present the options available to update your counting system to the latest technology:
Option 1- Upgrade your counter with a compatible 4G logger (depending on the counter generation and cable connector.)
Option 2- Upgrade the complete counting system to a latest generation Eco-Counter.
We understand that this update about 3G network discontinuation may be unexpected, but we’re here to help you with the transition. Our team is ready to answer any questions, discuss upgrade costs, and assist you every step of the way.