When the 2G network is switched off, thousands of garages will stop opening

Why does the 2G shutdown affect garage opening?

A GSM garage-gate opener is a type of opener that uses the mobile-phone network to open the garage gate. These devices work by sending a message or calling from your mobile phone to open the gate, which has made them very popular thanks to their reliability and ease of use.

The challenge is that many of these garage-gate openers only support 2G and 3G networks. The 3G network was phased out in 2020, and when the 2G network is switched off, these devices will no longer work.

Why is the 2G network being shut down?

Mobile operators make the decision to phase out older mobile technologies based on business and technical considerations. The 2G network is based on older technology that no longer meets today’s requirements for mobile communication. To be able to offer faster and more reliable communication via newer technologies like 4G and 5G, the operators want to free up frequency bands and resources.

It’s also worth noting that many devices still using the 2G network, like older GSM garage-gate openers, are becoming increasingly obsolete and are being replaced by newer technology. The need to maintain the 2G network therefore gradually decreases.

What should owners of older GSM garage-gate openers do?

To ensure your garage-gate opener works after the 2G network is switched off, you should check whether the device supports 4G or 5G networks, or whether it can communicate via Wi-Fi or Bluetooth. Your gate supplier should be able to give you this information, and in some cases you can also find answers in the manual.

If the device only supports 2G/3G, it will no longer work after the 2G network is switched off. Although it may involve a cost, it will be necessary to upgrade or replace the device to ensure that both residents and businesses still have access to the garage.

The benefits of upgrading to Parqio

If your garage is affected by the 2G shutdown, we recommend upgrading to the Parqio system. Parqio uses the 4G/5G network, which makes it future-proof.

Once the garage is upgraded with Parqio, users can choose for themselves how to open the gate — automatically, via an app, or by calling. The garage manager can also enable users to share access with guests. A dedicated, user-friendly admin solution makes it easy to add users and get an overview of who has access to the garage at any time.