Will the UK’s 2G/3G Shutdown Impact Smart Meters? | Procode
UK’s 2G and 3G Shutdown: Why Smart Meter Data Will Continue to Flow
It is now more than three decades since the UK’s mobile networks started being able to do more than just handle voice calls.
The launch of second generation (2G) networks in 1991 revolutionised communication on the go. 2G was the first step on a journey that would ultimately allow users to access rich internet services based on data communication. 2G enabled phones to send and receive packets of data, such as text and multimedia messages but also signalled the rise of the so-called Internet of Things or IoT – where devices other than phones could also communicate over the mobile networks.
The Evolution of 2G and 3G in the UK
When third generation (3G) networks were launched in the UK in 2003, data speeds got faster, and mobile phone users were suddenly able to browse the fledgling World Wide Web from their phones. It is incredible to think of the advances in power of phones, including the launch of Apple’s iPhone in 2007.
Network technology has moved on and we are now in the fifth generation (5G) era, although not everyone has access.
How will the 2G and 3G Shutdown Impact Smart Meters?
According to Ofcom’s Connection Nations report in 2023, just 3% of mobile data was transported over 3G networks that year, compared to 81% carried over 4G.
As a result of the decline of 2G and 3G services, in 2021, the UK’s mobile networks confirmed the that they planned to turn off their older networks and that both 2G and 3G networks would be sunset by 2033 at the latest.
In fact, many networks will be shut down before then. Vodafone, EE and Three have already shut down their 3G networks with O2 due to do so by the end of 2025.
Yet mobile phones are just one part of the data revolution and smart meters are one of the success stories of the IoT Revolution. The 37 million smart meters that are installed in Britain’s houses and businesses rely on 2G and 3G networks to communicate with the Data Communications Company, the UK’s smart meter data backbone.
Why Smart Meter Data Flow Remains Unaffected
The UK’s 3G switch-off has had minimal impact on the UK’s smart meter estate, as those using 3G networks have transitioned back to 2G. According to the DCC, a typical household meter transfers under 2MB of data per month, therefore this rollback poses no issues as EE are planning to shut down “later this decade” and the DCC state that 2G service will be offered until 2023.
In central and southern England and Wales, DCC’s smart meters are currently connected to the O2 network, while those in Scotland and northern England rely on Arqiva’s Long-Range Radio network.
In the meantime, plans are in place to transition smart meters over to newer mobile networks.
How Smart Meters are Transitioning to 4G Networks
In 2023, DCC and Vodafone announced a new partnership to transition smart meters to 4G services and, in December 2024, 4G Comms Hubs were installed in homes for the first time.
The Role of the DCC in Maintaining Smart Meter Connectivity
Mike Hewitt, DCC’s Chief Technology Officer, said: “The 4G programme however doesn’t just seek to replicate the old functionality with newer technology. We’ve taken the chance to build something better. We’ve collaborated with Vodafone, for network connectivity, and Toshiba, for manufacturing, to build these 4G Hubs such that they will deliver direct benefits to energy suppliers and network operators, helping to drive flexibility, and maintain grid balance and stability, and allow deep insight into consumption patterns and network performance.”
Some 10,000 Hubs are due to be installed over the next few months to test initial connections, data transmission, security monitoring and network stability. Once the trials are complete, from summer 2025 the plan is to roll out 4G Communications Hubs as standard.
There is a sizeable job to do to bring the UK’s legacy smart meters up to date. The Department for Energy and Net Zero says it believes that seven million existing meters will need upgrading to 4G by 2033.
Rest assured that Procode is on hand to ensure that data flows from the UK’s energy meters will not turn dumb over the next eight years.
How Procode Ensures Seamless Data Flow
Our Intelligent Data Adapter facilitates seamless communication with the DCC, empowering suppliers and distribution networks to access their comprehensive smart meter data, issue commands to the meters via our advanced orchestration layer, and generate tailored insights based on specific use cases.
Cristian Chipaila, IT Product Owner, says, “We designed our adapter with high availability architecture to provide unparalleled service uptime, working in an active-active configuration. Our fault tolerant architecture with load balancing, provides resilience within the adapter itself to keep us available and running when the DCC is unavailable.”
For organisations looking to harness smart meter data without managing meter operations directly, Procode’s Smart Datastream offers a powerful solution to access real-time and historical data streams, helping drive energy efficiency initiatives and reduce carbon emissions.
With the large-scale transition to 4G involving millions of meters, Procode can be your trusted partner to ensure that the data needed to help consumers reduce their energy consumption and the country to reduce its carbon emissions continues to flow.