Ending 3G Service Sparks Fears of an 'Alarmaggedon'

[dalton99a]

16. And cars:

https://www.consumerreports.org/car-safety/3g-wireless-network-shutdown-impact-on-car-safety-a2215482633/

3G Wireless Network Shutdown Means Your Car May Lose Automatic Crash Notification
As 3G networks shut down in 2022, some cars can be upgraded—but others will lose the feature for good
By Keith Barry

As wireless carriers prepare to shut down their 3G networks over the coming months, millions of cars may lose the ability to automatically contact first responders after a crash. Some vehicles just need a software or hardware upgrade, but others—including vehicles from Chrysler, Dodge, Hyundai, Jeep, Lexus, Nissan, Ram, and Toyota—will lose their connections permanently.

Automatic crash notification, which alerts first responders after a crash via a built-in cellular connection, often relies on aging 3G cellular networks to connect drivers with emergency services and share a vehicle’s location. Even though automakers have been aware that these networks are shutting down permanently between February and July, many manufacturers still relied on it until as recently as the 2021 model year. ...

In addition to crash notification, many vehicles also have an “SOS” button to contact emergency services, and a lot of those buttons still use a 3G network. It’s usually red and located near the vehicle’s dome light or rearview mirror. Some cars may also use 3G connectivity for convenience features such as remote unlocking, remote start, emergency roadside assistance, navigation map updates, and vehicle diagnostics. These and other features will no longer work without an upgrade to newer 4G or 5G technology—but because of the way many of these vehicles are designed, it can be difficult or even impossible to upgrade the technology to work with the newer networks, Lanctot says.