Security Systems at risk
USA Today article notice the date of 2012
Cell towers will shortly turn off all the 2G communications and thousands of security systems will stop communicating. Most people update their cell phones on a regular basis to new models although many people that got the first security cell systems have not thought about updating their cell system that is built into their security system or attached to it.
AT&T 2G Sunset explained. ©2014 AT&T Intellectual Property. All rights reserved. AT&T, the AT&T logo and all other AT&T marks contained herein are
trademarks of AT&T Intellectual Property and/or AT&T affiliated companies.
Frequently Asked Questions Regarding 2G Sunset
1. Why are you shutting down your 2G network? Mobile data traffic in the United States grew by 75,000 percent over a six-year span, from 2001-2006. In the six years that followed, mobile data traffic on AT&T’s national wireless network increased more than 50,000 percent (from January 2007 through December 2013). Reallocating capacity to our more advanced wireless networks will help more of our customers have a better experience.
2. The network turn down is not until 2017. Why are you sending me reminders now? We believe it’s important for us to be transparent about our plans for the 2G network. Our spectrum reallocation efforts have already begun and will continue between now and January 1, 2017. We may turn down some markets entirely before 2017. We’re taking advantage of the long lead time to work proactively with customers who are using our 2G network today to manage their migration to the more advanced networks.
3. You say that you’ll work closely with customers to manage the migration process. How will customers be alerted of the transition and how will you ensure it’s a smooth process? We’re committed to working closely with customers to make this process as easy as possible. In cases where we’re turning down AT&T’s owned and operated 2G network, we’ll continue to communicate specific details well in advance of turning down the network and work hard to ensure mobile communication needs are met throughout the process.
4. Why can’t AT&T allocate a small portion of its spectrum to accommodate subscribers who don’t want to transition? Maintaining our 2G network to serve a small number of customers wouldn’t be an efficient use of our spectrum, which can be better used to support our 3G and 4G networks. By making this transition, M2M customers will be able to enhance their applications and solutions with new features (i.e. video cameras for real-time streaming/records for alarm solutions, driver dash cameras for fleet trucks, etc.) because of the higher speeds of the upgraded network, allowing them to better serve their customers and employees. This would not be possible on the 2G network.
5. Is this one way that you’re addressing the issue of limited spectrum? We are happy with how our network is performing, but we are always looking to augment our spectrum position. In fact, we closed more than 60 spectrum deals in 2013 alone. Aside from the spectrum acquisitions, we’ve invested more than $140 billion of capital and spectrum acquisitions in our wireline and wireless networks in the last six years, and we plan to invest approximately $21 billion this year. We are getting better spectral efficiency with our LTE network, and we’re on track to begin the WCS build as planned in 2015.