How the 3G Shutdown of 2022 Could Impact Your Car?

You may have heard that the U.S. will shut down major 3G cellular networks in 2022. At the chance of making anyone feel old, we are far enough advanced in the 21st Century that the technology that brought us the smartphone era is obsolete. "Sunsetting" is the preferred euphemism of the telecom industry. This is simply another way to say that it won't happen in a single day. However, 3G networks will certainly disappear in this country. For more related articles visit unlimited wireless internet.

You think, "Huh." Quaint." Quaint" Many new cars built in the past decade, including some from the 2021 model year, were equipped with 3G connectivity. This includes in-nav traffic, location data, WiFi hotspots, and emergency call services. Remote lock/unlock functions, smartphone apps connectivity, voice assistants, and concierge services. Most of the features found in these cars will cease to work after 2022, when AT&T and Verizon, as well as T-Mobile, pull the plug.

VIA STELLARIS

The biggest story in the auto industry is the end of 3G. It has the potential to have a huge impact on millions of vehicles from almost every major manufacturer. However, car companies have not responded uniformly. They offer a variety of plans, from upgrading cars to 4G and 5G (for an additional fee) to simply acknowledging that they are losing a lot of features.

It's also a glimpse of the longevity issues that we'll face in the future, where fully connected cars are loaded with subscription features. Your car must communicate with a central server managed by a company and dependent on a network technology that won't last forever. There are many benefits to making cars part of the internet, but we don't yet fully understand all of them. It's inevitable that things will change, even if they aren't always pretty.

Why is this happening? Cellular providers plan to cut off their 3G signal to make way for more 5G.

We all know that technology is forever evolving, and as we get new tech. And we expect it to respond instantaneously--that includes the internet on our smartphones. Cell phones communicate with cell towers by using low levels of radiofrequency energy (R.F.), also known as non-ionizing radiation. The electromagnetic spectrum is where R.F. falls.

It has finite space for transmitting data without interference. Federal Communications Commission, for example, allocates radio spectrum space to specific purposes. Some bands, such as those used with home wireless routers, are not licensed, while others, such as the spectrum used by cell radios, are tightly regulated to prevent interference. Although this explainer video was made in the U.K., the concept of spectrum sharing is universal.

AT&T will shut down its 3G services on February 20, 2022. Sprint will follow in March and T-Mobile in July. Verizon will continue to operate until December 31, when 3G will be fully operational in America.

VIA GENERAL MOTORS

The Affected Cars

We have already covered a few connected vehicle services automakers have built over the past ten-plus year on 3G networks. These include everything from owner apps to emergency calls services, in-nav functionality to reporting telematics data to the mothership. It is well-known that automotive tech falls behind consumer standards. Your smartphone may be good, but many infotainment systems can be very bad. However, it is still shocking to see the full list of 3G-dependent cars, including some luxury vehicles from 2017-2019 and some 2021 models.

General Motors acknowledged that certain fleet models manufactured between 2015 and 2021 would be affected. Still, they did not specify which vehicles were affected across its sub-brands, Buick, Cadillac, and Chevrolet. A technical service bulletin that indicated almost all post-2015 models are affected was found. This would be reasonable considering how common OnStar is in G.M. vehicles.

Honda Link

Then, what's the plan?

My friend, the plan is entirely dependent on the automaker. Stellaris, for example, says it will continue to offer its customers connected services at a cost. For vehicles that can update to 4G, you will have the option to buy a subscription for $9.99 or unlimited data for $29.99 per month. According to the NHTSA service bulletin, retrofits are free of charge for customers who have a connected vehicle plan. This could have implications for future owners who wish to buy connected services at a later stage in their vehicle's lifespan. G.M. began offering an over-the-air update for OnStar in October. However, some cars from 2015 will require a hardware swap. Tesla claims that while it will charge $200 for older Model S cars, there are no additional fees.

VIA GENERAL MOTORS

Toyota and Lexus aren't planning to retrofit affected vehicles, but some automakers like Toyota. Toyota refers to a clause in the disclosures on the subject that states certain connected services can change without notice. The Drive also asked Toyota whether it planned to offer a paid upgrade for owners of affected vehicles. The answer was "no."

A preview of the upcoming attractions

This will not be the last time cars are stripped of features they might have assumed would work forever. It's not the first time a major wireless technology is being retired. AT&T shut down its 2G network in 2017. As wireless tech improves, 4G networks could one day also be retired, leaving connected cars without a way back home. Closed-source connected vehicles will continue to suffer because they are dependent on providers and manufacturers. While the end of 3G may not be within automakers' reach, it does demonstrate how fragile these arrangements can become.

Anyone who is just mad that their remote start app won't work can point to the constant March of technology and human advancement. There will still be champions and losers in the future, and it is hard to feel like you are a loser because a company sold your vision that it cannot support. As cars become more software-laden, this isn't going to be an easy problem. But if we look for silver linings in the situation, perhaps one day we will come back to the realization that true luxury is the freedom and independence of an unconnected car. Maybe.

How the 3G Shutdown of 2022 Could Impact Your Car

You may have heard that the U.S. will shut down major 3G cellular networks in 2022. At the chance of making anyone feel old, we are far enough advanced in the 21st Century that the technology that brought us the smartphone era is obsolete. The preferred euphemism of the telecom industry is "sunsetting," which is a fancy way to say that it won't happen in a single day. However, 3G networks will certainly disappear in this country.

VIA STELLARIS

It's also a glimpse of the longevity issues that we'll be facing in the future of fully connected cars, loaded with subscription services whose continued functionality is dependent on your car being capable of talking to a central server controlled and maintained by a company. There are many benefits to making cars part of the internet, but we don't yet fully understand all of them. It's inevitable that things will change, even if they aren't always pretty.

This 1952 Dodge Military Truck Is Off-Roading Comes Equipped with a 3.9L Cummins.

The 3G Sunset: Basics

Why is this happening? Cellular providers plan to cut off their 3G signal to make way for more 5G.

Technology is permanently evolving, and as we get new tech, we expect it to respond instantaneously, including the internet on our smartphones. Cell phones communicate with cell towers by using low levels of radiofrequency energy (R.F.), also known as non-ionizing radiation. The electromagnetic spectrum is where R.F. falls. It has finite space for transmitting data without interference. Federal Communications Commission, for example, allocates radio spectrum space to specific purposes. Some bands, such as those used with home wireless routers, are not licensed, while others, such as the spectrum used by cell radios, are tightly regulated to prevent interference. Although this explainer video was made in the U.K., the concept of spectrum sharing is universal.

VIA GENERAL MOTORS

The Affected Cars

This means that 3G towers will be shut down. It also means that cars will have to be switched over to 4G cellular communication standards. This could be an over-the-air update or a hardware swap at a dealer for some cars. Others will see it as the end of connected services. A few automakers have created FAQs that list affected models and services and outline their plans to manage the switch. Some have not responded or been open to suggestions. The Drive reached out to all major automakers over weeks to compile a list of all cars that will be affected by 2022 sunsetting of AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon 3G networks. The links to the OEM pages provide details about which services will be discontinued, altered, or discontinued.