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If your organization runs Semtech’s AirLink Manager (AM) or AirLink Management Manager (AMM) on an on-premises server, there is a hard deadline coming that you need to know about: May 31, 2026. After that date, Google is ending support for the reverse address lookup and geolocation mechanism that AM/AMM servers rely on for geographic functionality. If you have not upgraded to version 2.18 by then, you will lose mapping and location features across your fleet.
The fix is already out. Here is what you need to know.
What Is Changing and Why
Google is sunsetting the specific geocoding API endpoint that older versions of AirLink Manager and AirLink Management Manager use to render maps, plot device locations, and perform reverse address lookups. This is not a Semtech problem per se — it is a Google platform change — but it directly affects any on-prem AM or AMM deployment that has not been patched.
The result? After May 31st, customers running unpatched servers will see geographic functionality go dark. No maps. No device location plotting. No address lookups. The rest of the platform will continue to operate, but the loss of visual fleet tracking is significant for most deployments.
Customers on hosted AMM servers are already covered — Semtech has already applied the 2.18 fix on the hosted side. On-prem customers are the ones who need to act.
The Fix: AM/AMM 2.18
Version 2.18 of AirLink Manager and AirLink Management Manager resolves the Google Maps issue and is available now. Semtech began rolling out on-prem upgrades the week of March 16th. If your organization has not yet been contacted or upgraded, you should open a support ticket or reach out to your Semtech channel partner to get in the queue.
Beyond the Google Maps fix, 2.18 also delivers one of the most significant platform additions in recent memory: AirLink OS device support. For the first time, customers can manage MGOS, ALIOS, and AirLink OS devices from a single AM/AMM interface without needing a separate platform. Initial AirLink OS capabilities in 2.18 include:
- Device registration and onboarding
- Remote web UI access via management tunnel (works even on private networks)
- Device monitoring with configurable alert thresholds
- Configuration template deployment
- Firmware upgrades
Note that RX400 and EX400 support is not in the initial 2.18 release — that comes in 2.18.1, currently targeting May 12th.
What Is Coming in 2.18.1 and 2.18.2
Semtech has a clear near-term roadmap for AM/AMM. The 2.18.1 release (targeting May 12th) adds:
- RX400 and EX400 device support
- Nutanix and Hyper-V hypervisor support (a response to VMware licensing cost increases)
- Link Utilization Report
- Coverage maps and trails report
- Gateway trips report
- Additional AirLink OS cellular parameters
The 2.18.2 release, planned for the second half of 2026, will add migration tools for Nutanix and Hyper-V, expanded config template support (tag IDs, passwords, LAN segments, VPN), more API coverage, additional security management features, more reports, and OBD-2 telemetry dashboard parity for MG devices.
Action Items for AM/AMM Customers
The steps are straightforward:
- Confirm your server type. Hosted AMM customers are already patched. On-prem AM or AMM customers need to upgrade.
- Upgrade to 2.18 before May 31, 2026. Do not wait until the last week. Coordinate with your IT team now.
- Check the Semtech Source bulletin. Semtech has published a bulletin covering the Google Maps change. If you need it forwarded directly, your channel partner can send it, or you can open a support ticket on your own behalf.
- Contact your reseller if you need help. Partners can open support tickets on customer behalf and help coordinate upgrades.
The 5Gstore Take
This is one of those situations where the deadline is real and the consequences are immediate. Losing geographic visibility across a cellular router fleet is not a minor inconvenience — it directly impacts monitoring, troubleshooting, and reporting workflows. The good news is the fix is simple and already available.
If you are running AirLink Manager or AirLink Management Manager on-prem and have not yet upgraded to 2.18, now is the time. 5Gstore carries the full lineup of Semtech AirLink devices and can help you plan a hardware or software migration if you are also looking to modernize your fleet management platform. Contact us and we will get you pointed in the right direction.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this affect hosted AMM customers? No. Semtech has already applied the 2.18 fix to all hosted AMM servers. This deadline only applies to on-premises AM and AMM deployments.
What exactly breaks after May 31, 2026? Geographic functionality — including maps, device location plotting, and reverse address lookups — will stop working on unpatched servers. The rest of the AM/AMM platform will continue to function.
Is the 2.18 upgrade free? Yes, version 2.18 is a standard software update for customers with active support and maintenance agreements. Contact Semtech or your reseller if you have questions about your agreement status.
Can I manage AirLink OS devices in AM/AMM after upgrading to 2.18? Yes. One of the major additions in 2.18 is AirLink OS device support, allowing MGOS, ALIOS, and AirLink OS devices to be managed from a single platform for the first time.
What if I miss the May 31 deadline? You can still upgrade after May 31 — upgrading to 2.18 will restore geographic functionality. But you will experience an outage of map and location features in the interim.
Will RX400 and EX400 devices be supported in AM/AMM? Not in the initial 2.18 release. RX400 and EX400 support is targeted in the 2.18.1 release, currently expected May 12, 2026.
