The shutdown of Telstra’s 3G network and the switchover to 4G presents a unique opportunity for fleet managers in Australia to adopt or upgrade telematics systems. This technology can deliver significant benefits in terms of safety, environmental impact, and cost reduction.
With the Australian government’s revised mandate to reduce carbon emissions, the need for more sustainable transport is more urgent than ever, and the transport sector must play an active role in addressing climate change.
According to the Climate Council, the transport sector is the third-largest source of greenhouse gas emissions in Australia, accounting for 18 per cent of all carbon dioxide emissions. By 2030, transport emissions are projected to be 82 per cent higher than in 1990. Despite this, the government has not yet proposed carbon emission standards specifically for transport, making it incumbent on the industry to drive change for itself.
As Sean Killen, Geotab vice president for Latin America, Asia, and Australia/New Zealand, explains, this is where telematics can help fleet managers address this challenge by providing real-time traffic and weather information to identify the most efficient routes for vehicles, thereby reducing fuel consumption and emissions.
In addition, telematics systems can track and analyse driving behavior to identify and address unsafe or inefficient driving practices that put drivers and other road users at risk. This data-driven approach provides fleet managers with multiple opportunities to make more informed decisions that improve efficiency, safety outcomes, and reduce their fleet’s environmental impact, while benefiting from reduced fuel and maintenance costs.
However, much work remains to be done – many Australian fleet managers have yet to fully embrace the potential of telematics, putting them at risk of falling behind their peers in comparison to their counterparts in the United States. With the looming Telstra 3G network shutdown in June 2024, legacy in-vehicle modem-based systems that connect with this network will become instantly redundant. This presents a once-in-a-generation hardware upgrade opportunity for Australian fleet managers to realise the data-led benefits of a more powerful cellular network.
To take advantage of this opportunity, fleet managers should assess their priorities and determine which 4G technologies will best address their needs. This may include going paperless, reducing maintenance costs, improving safety, and scaling up the use of electric vehicles to reduce carbon emissions.
Understanding these priorities will help fleet managers plan for a staggered rollout between now and the 3G sunset, ensuring that they are not left in the dark. By doing so, they can play a more significant role in helping Australia achieve its emissions reduction targets.
In conclusion, the shutdown of Telstra’s 3G network and the switchover to 4G provide an opportunity for Australian fleet managers to adopt or upgrade telematics systems that can deliver significant benefits in terms of safety, environmental impact, and cost reduction. With the Australian government’s mandate to reduce carbon emissions, the transport sector must play an active role in addressing climate change.
Telematics technology can help fleet managers achieve this goal by providing data-driven insights that improve efficiency, safety outcomes, and reduce their fleet’s environmental impact, while benefiting from reduced fuel and maintenance costs. To take advantage of this opportunity, fleet managers should plan for a staggered rollout between now and the 3G sunset and ensure that they understand their priorities to choose the right 4G technologies.
About Geotab
Geotab is a global leader in connected transportation solutions, providing telematics – vehicle and asset tracking – solutions to over 40,000 customers in 150 countries. For more than 20 years, Geotab has invested in ground-breaking data research and innovation to enable partners and customers, including Fortune 500 and public sector organisations, to transform their fleets and operations.
Geotab connects to over 3.5 million vehicles and processes more than 55 billion data points a day so that customers can make better decisions, increase productivity, have safer fleets, and achieve their sustainability goals.
Geotab’s open platform and marketplace offers hundreds of third-party solution options. Backed by a team of industry leading data scientists and AI experts, Geotab is unlocking the power of data to understand real-time and predictive analytics – solving for today’s challenges and tomorrow’s world.
To learn more, visit geotab.com.au, follow @GEOTAB on Twitter and LinkedIn or visit the Geotab Blog.