The dismantling of the old mobile networks, called 2G and 3G, has begun all over the world and also in Sweden.
– Basically, it is the case that these old networks are largely empty already. Customers have chosen other solutions, i.e. 4G and 5G. Then it is not economically justifiable to run empty networks and in terms of energy it is also completely insane, says Tommy Ljunggren who is an expert on the 2G/3G technology shift at the trade and employer organisation TechSwedento News24.
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Photo: Jessica Gow/TT
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Several technical gadgets are affected by the shutdown
A consequence of the shutdown is that some technical gadgets, which are connected to the old networks, will stop working as they should.
For example, some mobile phones, which do not support the newer networks, will no longer be able to be used as before.
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Photo: Fredrik Sandberg/TT
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Robotic lawnmowers may lose connection
Another type of technical gadget that may be affected during the decommissioning is robotic lawnmowers.
– It is far from all robotic lawnmowers that depend on a mobile connection. But if you are able to control and control your lawnmower when you are not at home, then you have some form of mobile connection, notes Tommy Ljungggren and continues:
– Then it’s not that the robotic lawnmower won’t work at all, but you’ll just lose the ability to control it with a remote control.
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT
The operators have worked for several years to inform their customers that the old mobile networks are being shut down. However, there is a complication here, says Ljunggren.
– Precisely when it comes to, for example, robotic lawnmowers, there is a certain problem. The operators don’t really know that this SIM card they provided is in a robotic lawnmower, because they can’t read it in any way, unless the manufacturer has an agreement with a particular operator.
It can therefore be difficult to inform everyone who is affected, even if some suppliers and producers have framework agreements with operators and can thus reach the affected customers.
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This is how you know if your robotic lawnmower is affected
According to Tommy Ljunggren, the timing of the purchase of the robotic lawnmower can indicate whether it is affected by the shutdown.
– If it has been more than two to three years since you bought the lawnmower, then there is reason to check the whole thing, he says.
Photo: Martina Holmberg/TT
How to check if the robotic lawnmower supports the 4G and 5G networks?
– The easiest thing is to go to the place where you bought it, because it is not possible to, for example, “open up” the lawnmower and check, Ljungggren answers and emphasizes that it can also be worth looking at receipts, delivery notes or the like.
– It can say that it is, for example, a 2G or 3G module.
Should it turn out that the robotic lawnmower you have in your possession does not support the new mobile networks, it does not have to be fully operational. Ljunggren states that it may be that the machine can be upgraded.
Husqvarna: Here are the lawnmowers affected
When Nyheter24 contacted Husqvarna, which is one of the largest manufacturers of robotic lawnmowers, they stated that “Husqvarna Automower” manufactured before week 40 of 2020 will be affected by the shutdown of the 2G network.
– The first four digits of the mower’s serial number indicate the year and week of manufacture. Mowers with serial numbers starting with 2039 or lower are therefore affected, says the communications manager Fredrik Henriksson.
Photo: Johan Nilsson/TT
However, all settings are locally saved on the mower, so according to Henriksson, it will continue to cut the grass according to the schedule and settings the customer made.
– If the mower supports Bluetooth connection, the Automower Connect app will also continue to work near the mower.
Mowers manufactured after week 2020 have support for both 2G and 4G and will therefore continue to work even after 2G is closed. Husqvarna Automower with model year 2016 and later can be upgraded with a communication card that supports 4G.
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