The Impact of Vodafone 3G sunset on security alarm monitoring in New Zealand

With more than 12 months until the 3G network closure, installers have ample time to prepare for the necessary upgrades, but it is essential not to delay, writes Alarm Watch’s Graeme McKenzie.

The security alarm monitoring landscape in New Zealand has undergone a significant transformation in recent years. The upgrades to the PSTN network have made it largely unsuitable for a multitude of security alarms.

As a result, many alarms have migrated to IP and GSM monitoring paths. However, another challenge is on the horizon with the upcoming closure of the Vodafone 3G network in August 2024.

It is crucial for alarm installers to recognise the implications of the 3G sunset and take proactive measures to plan module upgrades for their clients well in advance.

The 3G sunset is part of the ongoing mobile network evolution, driving the transition towards more robust and capable LTE networks such as 4G and CAT-M1. Understanding the difference between these two networks is important.

Unlike 4G, CAT-M1 trades data rate for improved power efficiency. The lower data rates enable signals to travel over longer distances. This means that in some instances, one module may have superior reception over the other. It is beneficial for technicians to have a selection of modules in their van and to check network coverage on the telco’s websites if they are unsure.

Graeme McKenzie Technical Manager Alarm Watch.

A considerable number of monitored alarm clients in New Zealand still rely on early model 3G devices installed by early adopters of the technology. While Permaconn,

Paradox, Multipath, Arrowhead, and others ceased selling 3G units and started supplying 4G capable models several years ago, there are still thousands of clients using these older devices that will require upgrades to maintain uninterrupted monitoring services once 3G is shut off.

Interestingly, another popular module provider, Radionet, skipped 3G altogether and went directly from supplying 2G units to 4G. (2G is expected to start shutting down sometime in 2025, so there’s a reprieve for those original clients, for now).

With more than 12 months until the 3G network closure, installers have ample time to prepare for the necessary upgrades. However, it is essential not to delay, as increased demand for communication modules closer to the shutdown date may impact delivery times. Moreover, the availability of skilled manpower for installations could become the limiting factor.

To minimise costs and ensure a smooth transition, I advise installers to integrate module replacements during the annual planned service for the clients. This approach enables efficient rollout planning and minimises disruptions for clients.

It’s also worth exploring additional benefits that may be available with some of the other units, such as remote upload/download programming, remote arm/disarm via apps, and Ethernet connections, by engaging in discussions with suppliers.

This is also a good time to review whether the client will require dualpath monitoring. Nowadays, all commonly available modules can provide this option by either using an Ethernet connection as one of the paths or by utilising a Dual-Path plan. Dual-path communication can have various configurations.

One option is a Dual-SIM plan, which utilizes two mobile networks and provides redundancy in case one network experiences connectivity issues. Another option is 4G + IP, which uses the client’s own internet connection as one path and the 4G network as the second path.

A higher security option is Dual SIM + IP, effectively providing three paths. While using IP as a path will not cost more per month than a single SIM standard plan, the module must support it with an onboard Ethernet connection, and a cable must be run back to the client’s router.