How forward-thinking CSPs can turn 2G / 3G sunset into 5G success

For decades, 2G and 3G networks have served as a reliable backbone for voice and machine-to-machine communication, offering familiarity and continuity for communications service providers (CSPs) and their customers alike. However, the telecom landscape has evolved dramatically in that time, with new offerings and capabilities continually driving ever-changing market needs.

The latest Ericsson Mobility Report has global 5G subscriptions projected to reach over 6.3 billion by 2030, making up more than 67 percent (two-thirds) of mobile subscriptions. By that time, 2G and 3G subscriptions are expected to decline to seven percent. For those still offering or using these legacy technologies, the migration to modern network solutions may seem nothing more than an inevitable transition they will have to eventually undertake. In fact, this shift represents a unique strategic advantage for CSPs willing to meet the challenge.

Join us as we explore the opportunities, key considerations, and the perhaps unexpected role antennas can play in unlocking the greatest potential from your networks.

Why is now the time for 2G / 3G sunset?

Delaying the sunset of legacy 2G and 3G networks no longer makes sense as a viable option for CSPs once strategic, operational and commercial considerations are taken into account.

From a network perspective, decommissioning these older technologies frees up valuable low-band spectrum for 5G utilization. This is a critical move, as low-band spectrum is ideal for wide-area coverage, enabling CSPs to accelerate the broad deployment of 5G SA and unlock new monetization opportunities and innovative services based on network slicing and differentiated connectivity.

This shift also delivers wider benefits, since 5G offers significant spectral and energy efficiency compared to older technologies, allowing more data delivery with less energy consumption – a win for both performance and the planet.

Turning 2G / 3G shutdown concerns into capabilities

The decision to sunset legacy networks is, at its heart, a financially strategic maneuver for CSPs – and the evidence is compelling. The operational savings from turning off energy-intensive legacy equipment, including older radio access network (RAN) and core network components, are substantial. A recent analysis on a large European CSP’s live network estimated the savings of decommissioning 2G RAN at approximately 53 million EUR in five years.

This figure represents a vital truth for CSPs: the savings far outweigh the investment required to bridge any potential voice coverage gaps. This means the savings generated by turning off legacy networks effectively finance any additional improvements needed to achieve Voice over LTE (VoLTE) parity, which we will explore further later in this post. The CSP's journey is therefore not just about upgrading – it’s about making smart investments that both improve their network’s operational efficiency and expand their future capabilities.

Infographic highlights the total costs and each impacted parameter when swapping from GSM to VoLTE technology. Focusing on technology improvements there are tremendous saving possible.

Total cost saving by swapping antenna technology to VoLTE

Enabling 2G / 3G sunset - the journey to VoLTE and VoNR

The continued use of 2G and 3G networks today is typically driven by voice services and machine-to-machine (M2M) communication, as used in point-of-sale machines for retail, metering devices for energy, water and gas services and more. As addressed in an earlier white paper on, voice and SMS transformation following 2G/3G sunset, some services or existing businesses require more consideration and efforts than others to transition away from outdated legacy networks. However, with newer technologies like Reduced Capability (RedCap) on 5G Standalone (5G SA) and VoLTE or Voice over New Radio (VoNR), these needs can now be met.

Maintaining voice coverage parity in VoLTE has been a longstanding concern. However, recent analysis shows that these coverage gaps typically affect only a small percentage (5-10 percent) of rural sites, and can be effectively addressed with a holistic, end-to-end approach including both hardware and software. In this way, CSPs can ensure a seamless transition with VoLTE and VoNR that not only matches, but demonstrably surpasses, legacy voice capabilities.

Real live network trial proves impact of antennas

At Ericsson Antenna System, we’ve long understood that innovating and engineering industry-leading technologies specifically designed to meet unique market needs is instrumental for CSPs to enhance end user experience.

This understanding led to an industry-first field trial with a large European CSP, which conclusively demonstrated (in a live network environment) the measurable positive impact of antennas with superior passive intermodulation (PIM) performance. A form of interference, PIM can have a significant impact on network performance, particularly in uplink throughput and coverage – key factors in helping to bridge the gap in coverage and reliability for VoLTE.

The results speak for themselves:

• A 29 percent increase in average UL user
• More than two dB improved UL coverage.
• 33 percent reduction in total VoLTE drop call rate.
• 56 percent higher 64/256 quadrature amplitude modulation (QAM) utilization, thanks to improved radio environment conditions signified by the signal-to-interference-plus-noise ratio (SINR).

Infographic shows the key benefits of our latest antenna technology in regards to uplink user throughput (+29%) satisfying end users in their mobile network. In parallel the uplink coverage especially on cell edge has been significantly improved by more than 2.0dB.

Increased uplink user throughput and improved uplink coverage on cell edge

This live trial successfully demonstrated that superior antenna PIM performance allows CSPs to improve uplink coverage by more than two dB showing that VoLTE can, in fact, surpass legacy voice capabilities. The stronger-than-predicted results also give further support to the importance of evaluating antenna performance in live network environments rather than relying on data sheets, as discussed in our post last year on how our antennas came out on top in the benchmark arena.

Older antennas, built with GSM in mind (and not for today's complex, multi-band / multi-layer environments) create significant performance bottlenecks. Replacing these legacy sites and technologies with new, precisely engineered antennas offers a substantial leap in performance, directly impacting a CSPs top line through improved user experience and network modernization that goes beyond the GSM - VoLTE coverage parity achievement.

For example, advanced antennas with enhanced PIM performance and up to 85 percent higher beam efficiency leverage improved spectral efficiency in challenging radio environment to increase throughput, enhancing the user experience.

The honeycomb antenna platform is also the lightest in the market (at a 24 percent weight reduction compared to the previous generation) with a significantly reduced embodied carbon footprint of up to 47 percent, meaning CSPs can benefit from easier and safer deployment practices, while contributing to their sustainability targets.

A holistic approach: the key to a seamless 2G / 3G sunset

The contribution of advanced antennas to enhanced user experience and GSM-VoLTE coverage parity during sunset of legacy technologies can be amplified by the adoption of cutting-edge software functionalities and high performing hardware, in combination with word class network optimization.

In the trial mentionedearlier, the software functionalities extended the area of good speech quality coverage by reducing packet loss and adapting codec rates to coverage conditions. Moreover, as packet switched voice services have stringent requirements in terms of delays and frame error rate, VoLTE-service-aware feature configuration and mobility management proved to be advantageous.

The key features to enable 2G sunset are:

• Transmission time interval (TTI) bundling: Bundling enhances uplink coverage for VoLTE users by up to four dB. This technique is beneficial when user equipment (UE) faces poor radio conditions and power limitations, potentially preventing the transmission of single Voice over IP packets within a single TTI.
• VoLTE frequency hopping: This approach improves uplink robustness, providing an additional gain of one to two dB.
• Service-specific hybrid automatic repeat request (HARQ): Field testing has demonstrated up to a 25 percent reduction in uplink packet loss rate, leading to enhanced coverage and improved quality for VoLTE services.
• Fast aperiodic channel quality indicator (CQI): This mechanism allows for more accurate channel estimation in rapidly changing radio conditions. Field results indicate up to a six percent improvement in uplink packet loss.
• VoLTE rate recommendations: This feature enables supporting devices to adjust the codec's data rate during a call. Field trials have shown an improvement of up to 10 percent in uplink packet loss rate.

In an end-to-end system, precisely engineered hardware and advanced software work in perfect harmony, enabling optimization so each can achieve new heights in performance – and CSPs can build on it to enable new growth opportunities.

2G and 3G sunset today for a future-proof network tomorrow

While this transformation journey may seem daunting, by accelerating their 2G and 3G network shutdown, CSPs not only free up valuable spectrum and achieve significant operational efficiencies, they also unlock entirely new 5G revenue streams. And by combining advanced software features with leading antenna technology, service providers can confidently navigate this essential transformation, optimize their network performance, and thrive in the monetization opportunities of the 5G era.

The only question then is – what’s stopping you?

Learn more

• Find out more about what Ericsson Antenna System has to offer.
• Learn more about the benefits of advanced antenna technology and engineering in our blog on how antenna evolution is helping shape the future of networks.
• Gain further insights on preparing for 2G and 3G shutdown with our white paper on voice and SMS transformation following 2G/3G sunset.
• Explore how a phased approach can help accelerate the shift to 4G and 5G services in the Middle East and Africa, in our report on sunsetting legacy technologies.