- cross-posted to:
- technology@beehaw.org
- cross-posted to:
- technology@beehaw.org
cross-posted from: https://lazysoci.al/post/56484759
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How much does it cost to keep the 2G and 3G networks running? Assume the cost of running the network is borne by the telecoms companies, whereas the smart meter replacements are a problem for the taxpayer.
The telecom companies just charge their customers for it, who are basically “taxpayers” too. You pay either way, so a better question is what action is expected to offer best benefit-cost ratio?
I’d assume that part of the problem is them tying up frequency that could be used for more-valuable things.
The taxpayer gets a bit back when the freed frequencies are auctioned off.
Wasn’t 2G switched off a year or two ago?
According to the article, 3G was switched off, while 2G is mandated to be shut down in 2033; but the telcos are preemptively planning to do this in 2029/30.
Ah, I probably got mixed up with 3G.
Nah, I think networks have until 2030-something to turn it off
Consumer phone use will probably get cut off before then, but as the article indicates, there’re a lot of non-phone devices that make use of 2G networks too.
I’m probably running on out of date knowledge, but I think I remember reading that some rail signals depend(ed?) on 2G networks, similarly some alarm systems
I think rail uses GSM-R, which is not the same as the general public GSM aka 2G.
Oh really, I thought GSM-R was very much based on 2G, and is/was subject to the same switch off dates
I’m not gonna pretend I know loads about that though
Ah ok some mobile networks have already switched it off for consumers, but maybe not all of them are offline to everyone.
