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There are media reports
"Somewhere children's 2G phone watch can not be used"
It also circulated on the Internet
"2G will be cancelled next year"
So is this statement true?
How long will it take for the 2G network to be "cleared"?
And how many consumers will it affect?
The reporter of China Consumer Daily interviewed
Several people in the industry -
Who is still using 2G networks
"There shouldn't be many 2G users now." When the reporter interviewed, even some experts thought so. Indeed, looking around, it seems that everyone is using smartphones.
How many 2G users are involved in "going back to the network" in the country? The actual data is very different from everyone's feelings.
According to the analysis of the "koala is not a camel" of the communication industry, a simple calculation is made with the data released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, that is, the 1.592 billion mobile phone users in the country minus 1.319 billion mobile Internet users can roughly conclude that there are about 273 million 2G users. "It's a huge number that many people can't imagine, which equates to 1 in 5 mobile phone users who are still using 2G mobile phones until now."
Who are still using 2G networks? "Koalas are not camels" argues:
○ One is an elderly customer who uses a functional machine. They are unwilling or unable to change machines and cards, and for them, a simple telephone function is enough. 2G is the most comprehensive network, so some 2G stock individual users are in remote areas that have not yet been covered by 4G, and it is useless to change 4G.
○ There is also a category of silent users, that is, customers who ordered 2G network services in the early days but did not use them. Some of them are cards sent when ordering packages, and some are cards that users do not have to forget or even discard for a long time. However, due to the fact that there is no arrears and does not meet the conditions for operators to actively cancel accounts, it is still counted in the data report.
2G network withdrawal is a historical necessity
Just like the original analog network withdrew from the historical stage, in the eyes of industry insiders, the 2G network has now reached the middle and late stages, and it is necessary to withdraw from the historical stage.
2G equipment consumes power and the utilization rate is not high, and 5G needs more medium and low frequency to solve the problem of coverage. Zhao Yu, a senior observer of the communications industry, told reporters, "Therefore, 2G frequency re-cultivation for 4G and 5G is the trend." After users migrate to 4G and 5G networks, the 2G frequency will be re-cultivated for 4G and 5G. ”
Fu Liang, a senior observer of the communications industry, pointed out: "With the rapid increase of 4G and 5G coverage, the three major operators are choosing to shut down 2G and 3G networks to reduce operating cost pressures and spend resources such as frequency bands on 4G and 5G to quickly improve coverage quality." ”
That is to say, there are two main reasons for 2G clearance and decommissioning: one is that the coverage is very wide but the users are gradually reduced, the usage rate is not high, and the operation and maintenance costs are large; the second is that the high-quality frequency occupied should be used for the development of more advanced 5G networks.
2G grid retirement is a gradual process
In July this year, a document from China Mobile's Ministry of Planning and Construction went viral on the Internet, because it mentioned that "stop adding new 2G Internet of Things users by the end of 2020", which was interpreted as "China Mobile is about to carry out 2G clearance and withdrawal from the network". Rumors, coupled with reports that users in some places can't use smartwatches, have caused some people to panic.
But in fact, if there is no suitable opportunity, it is a thankless thing for operators to flip out the existing 2G customers and move them to 4G. It is also an extremely challenging task to identify, sort out and relocate hundreds of millions of 2G stock customers.
According to the reporter's understanding, 2G clearance and withdrawal of the network requires three steps: stop the development of 2G users - transfer the existing customers to other networks - clean up the remaining customers, 2G clearance of the network, equipment power into the warehouse.
China Mobile's suspension of the development of 2G Internet of Things users can be seen as the first step in 2G network retirement. Even if the migration of 2G stock customers is completed, the 2G network is not closed. China Mobile's notification document also did not mention shutting down the 2G network, only deciding to stop adding 2G users by the end of 2020.
"2G grid retirement is a natural process." Zhao Yu said, "If there are 2G users on the existing network, the operator's 2G network will inevitably be open, but the user needs to gradually change the card and migrate." Instead of killing 2G, users actively choose to upgrade. ”
How long does it take to complete a 2G network retirement? China Mobile insiders revealed in an interview with reporters: It is estimated that it will be in two to three years.
2G network withdrawal should not be hidden from consumers
The telecommunications service complaint data released by the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology in the third quarter of this year shows that the increase in complaints about network quality is obvious, which is interpreted by some people in the industry as caused by the perception of the impact of 2G network withdrawal.
Although this is not certain, a large part of the reason why this topic has been hyped up is related to the fact that operators have not been generous enough to inform consumers. "Because there is 3G after stopping the 2G network, or 2G after stopping 3G, or stopping 2G, 3G and 4G, but the operator does not notify the user and quietly shuts down, which is not appropriate." Fu Liang pointed out, "And may have brought irreparable losses to users due to the impact on user use, and was complained by users." ”
For 2G users or most 3G and 4G users, turning off the 2G network does not affect perception. "After 2G users upgrade to 4G, they will enjoy better service quality, such as 4G high-definition voice calls, and the voice quality will be greatly improved." Zhao Yu said.
For some users who "had a very cheap package in the past, so they were reluctant to change", in fact, they did not have to worry. Operators migrate through packages with equivalent or similar tariff standards. Consumer Jiao Likun told the "China Consumer Daily" reporter that she has a 2G standby machine, the monthly rent is only less than 10 yuan, a while ago to change the card, the cost has not changed.
In addition, operators will also use methods such as subsidizing purchase costs to guide old users to transfer to the network. This is very helpful for elderly users who have price concerns about changing smartphones.
"The logic is correct, and the practice should be encouraged. However, operators cannot hide the network and must do a good job in advance, which is like running before the high jump and long jump. Fu Liang believes that "there should be a clear timetable, such as more than 1 year in advance, prohibit new equipment that only supports the old network to enter the network, and clearly notify the terminal manufacturer; more than half a year in advance, announce the withdrawal time, and notify the user as much as possible, while providing users with alternatives (including terminal alternatives and package alternatives), as well as a certain off-grid grace period." ”
2G has made an outstanding contribution to the development of communications, but in the 5G era, it has become a heavy burden. To win the initiative of 5G, from operators to users, we must face the departure of 2G calmly.
Let 2G come to an end and welcome 5G to the scene.
Source/ China Consumer Daily, China Consumer Network
Reporter/Wu Xiaoli
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Source: China Consumer Daily