TMT
“ 4G OR 5G , WE ARE ABLE TO REDUCE POWER CONSUMPTION BY UP TO 90 % PER TRANSMITTED BYTE ”
O2 TELEFÓNICA SPOKESPERSON
in neighbouring Canada , which is one of the US ’ top trading partners . Canada ' s 3G networks are not due to be shut down until the end of 2025 – an important factor , given that the North American Free Trade Act ( NAFTA ) has incentivised US businesses to move assembly and manufacturing operations north of the border in recent years .
In the absence of a single uniform wireless network technology globally , it is likely that US companies looking to develop new products will find costs higher because they need to support all new and legacy wireless solutions .
In Europe , meanwhile , around 19 operators are planning to switch off their 3G network by 2025 , with eight operators planning to switch off 2G networks in the same timeframe . June 2021 saw two German operators – Germany Vodafone and Deutsche Telekoms – shutdown their 3G networks , while O2 Telefónica did so in December 2021 .
O2 Telefónica now uses the freed-up frequencies once used for 3G for the faster and more efficient 4G standard . This provides its customers with a more powerful network for digital applications , including social media , music and video streaming .
An O2 Telefónica spokesperson said : “ The 2G network will remain in place as the basic network for mobile telephony and SMS . Mobile data usage runs on the faster 4G and 5G mobile standards in the O2 network . In addition , by converting 3G technology to 4G or 5G , we are able to reduce power consumption by up to 90 % per transmitted byte .”
O2 Telefónica currently covers almost the total population of Germany with 4G / LTE and 2G / GSM , as well as more than 82 % with 5G . With more than 44 million mobile connections , it connects most people in Germany with mobile communications .
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