The long-anticipated year of the 2G sunset is finally upon us. Despite several years of warning, there are still a surprisingly large number of installed alarm panels that rely on 2G, many of which will need to be replaced before January 1, 2017, when AT&T’s 2G network will cease to exist. While Verizon’s plan is to eliminate its 2G (and 3G) operations by 2021, like AT&T, the carrier will begin shutting down its 2G towers throughout 2016, leaving a large number of end users without active cellular communication for their alarm systems.
There are so many 2G units out there, in fact, that replacing them could easily become a full-time focus for many dealers across the country, which just isn’t feasible for many security providers, said Shawn Welsh, vice president of marketing and business development for Atlanta-based Telguard.