Good info.
The numbers you reported point to ~30-35 mA Average Current (Sleeping + Operating), assuming you are using a 2,000 mAh Li-Po. If so, that seems way too high.
That’s 110 mWh used for 1 hour (1.5% SOC drop).
Again, I haven’t tested the 2G/3G, but I’ll relate it to the LTE.
A typical LTE cellular connection uses 1 mWh. It also uses 5 mWh in Stop Sleep Mode.
You’re at 110 mWh verse 6 mWh, each hour.
Do you have a board locally that you can check the Sleep Current w/ blank code on a 2G/3G, to determine if Sleeping or Operating Current is causing the major impact?
Then you’d know which area to focus your efforts for Code optimization (sleeping vs connection).
The answer could be (as you mentioned) that the 2G/3G is that much more power hungry.
But that’s also saying your 2G/3G requires ~100 mWh for a connection cycle, if it’s actually Sleeping properly.
Seems like somebody here would have some empirical data on 2G/3G current demands.