Is the telecare industry ready for the 2G and 3G network switch off? Our recent webinar with the TSA and Chiptech explored the risks to telecare services relying on these mobile networks for connectivity.
In particular, discussion focused on the recent announcement from Virgin Media O2 (VMO2) to accelerate the restriction to the 2G network. This surprise move will see the withdrawal of global inbound roaming services on the VMO2 2G network on 1 October 2025. Many dispersed alarms use overseas mobile network operators for flexible roaming access the UK's network, so this will directly affect telecare services.
Key takeaways from the webinar included:
- Over 250,000 telecare devices are critically reliant on 2G or require some access.
- The 2G/3G shutdowns impact dispersed alarms that use mobile networks to connect to monitoring centres but aren't 4G capable.
- VMO2's early 2G roaming withdrawal could reduce 2G network resilience by 33% as traffic funnels through EE and Vodafone.
- Housing providers should take steps now to mitigate the impact on their services. However, the panel agreed the digital phone switchover must remain the industry's top priority.
Speakers at the webinar included Appello CEO, Craig Barlow, along with Carl Atkey, Chief Technical Officer at Appello, and Tim Mulrey, Business Strategy & Transformation at TSA. We also invited David Hammond, European CEO at Chiptech, to join us as we believe customers should receive unified information on this important industry-wide issue.
The 2G/3G switch off in detail
Take a look at our blog post 2G/3G Network Switch Off: What This Means for Telecare for full details on the changes, including the impact on telecare services and a 2G/3G switch off timetable.
What VMO2’s 2G restriction means in practice
Tim Mulrey explained the work the TSA has been doing in light of VMO2’s announcement.
They have been discussing options with central government to delay or mitigate the timeline. However, VMO2 are confident telecare devices will not be significantly impacted due to mast sharing agreements with Vodafone UK, which will continue to allow roaming SIMs to access the 2G network.
TSA investigations to date broadly agree with VMO2's assessment. But Tim stressed it’s essential for housing providers to confirm the potential impact before the restriction is in place as there will be no piloting or regional test cases. Any risks to telecare services therefore need to be dealt with before the 1 October 2025 deadline.
Tim provided an overview of the TSA's initial impact findings:
- Of the c.728,000 SIMs in operation in telecare devices, 61,777 of these have roamed onto VMO2 over the last 6 months.
- Out of these, 9,099 potential 'red flag' SIMs have been identified as likely to be wholly reliant on VMO2. This isn't a fixed number but provides a point of focus for further work.
- A certain percentage of units will be left solely dependent on one network provider as a result of the restriction. This represents a possible 30-50% increase in risk to service resilience as a single point of failure.
The TSA is consulting with manufacturers to remove the reliance on 2G in a number of ways, with an urgent focus on the red flag cases. This includes pushing voice and data entirely onto the 4G network where possible with the roll out of VoLTE and VoIP.
All devices dependent on 2G for communications should be tested now in a controlled environment with the temporary removal of VMO2 2G. This will confirm if the SIM card is able to roam to another network or if it is reliant on VMO2, in which case further action will need to be taken.
How housing providers should prepare for 2G/3G switch off
With the 3G network all but fully decommissioned and the 2G restriction taking effect from 1st October, housing providers need to understand the implications of these changes for their telecare services.
Contact your supplier to confirm:
- What networks your devices connect to – in some cases, the SIM may not have access to all four major mobile networks, which may impact the connectivity options.
- Those devices which are already 4G compatible and those which use data over 4G but require 2G voice as these will need to be prioritised.
- What their plans are for devices reliant on 2G or 3G.
The panel recommended housing providers create a migration strategy, which should include:
- Switching all capable devices to VoLTE, VoIP or Ethernet connectivity.
- Removing access to VMO2 from 2G-reliant devices in a safe way well ahead of the 1 October deadline (including checking recycled devices that are to be deployed in a new property).
- Checking that new devices have multiple connectivity options, such as Ethernet or Wi‑Fi, so the device is not solely reliant on the mobile networks.
2G/3G switch off FAQs
When will the 2G and 3G networks be switched off?
Find a timetable for the 2G and 3G shutdowns here.
How will the 2G network be impacted by the 3G switch off and VMO2 2G restriction?
It's unclear how the 3G closure and VMO2 2G restriction will impact the standard 2G network. The TSA anticipates much of the volume will pass to Vodafone's 2G network. This may lead to congestion and the TSA is seeking reassurance that the 2G network will remain reliable.
What is VoLTE?
VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolution) enables voice calls to be made over the 4G network, providing higher quality audio and faster call connections. The TSA has confirmed with manufacturers that the vast majority of 4G telecare devices have access to either VoLTE or VoIP (which allows calls over the internet).
What is the risk of not upgrading your dispersed alarm?
There is an imminent risk for telecare devices relying on 3G, which is almost fully decommissioned. A medium to long term plan is needed to phase out old 2G devices ahead of 2028, when the shutdown of the standard 2G network is expected to begin. More urgently, it's vital to ensure devices will not be impacted by the 2G restriction by VMO2 on 1 October 2025.
What about the digital phone switchover?
This is separate from 2G/3G shutdown, although housing providers must address both. The TSA advises the analogue-to-digital transition remains the industry's top priority.
You deserve clarity, not confusion
That's why our goal at Appello is first and foremost to educate our customers – giving you the facts so you can make decisions with confidence.
Talk to us about your next steps for a pain-free transition to digital telecare.
Watch our webinar on the 2G and 3G switch-off here.
