2G, 3G, or 4G LTE, here’s how to plan a long-term wireless strategy

Believe it or not, 2G networks are still going strong, and are responsible for supporting millions of customers and mobile-to-mobile (M2M) devices the world over. While it’s clear the service won’t be going anywhere any time soon, it’s also obvious that 2G services have reached their support limit in many markets. As such, companies developing telecom technologies and M2M applications need to consider whether or not it’s worth migrating to 3G or 4G LTE, and how best to go about doing this.

The scenario described here is exactly why it is important to give greater thought to wireless strategy. There is no clear answer, as different areas of the world require different solutions, but telecom companies would be best served to begin focusing on solutions that allow for reuse of developed systems, spend more time testing the systems being put into place to ensure reliable service year over year, upgrade after upgrade, and continue with their certification efforts in multiple markets and operator networks, no matter the wireless technology in place. 

To better understand the difference between 2G, 3G, and 4G LTE technologies, things to consider when scaling up each of these network types, and best practices when it comes to future proofing products and solutions, download the free White Paper below from Sierra Wireless, entitled Planning a scalable long-term wireless strategy.