Plan Ahead for Phase Out of 3G Cellular Networks and Service

fcc.gov ^ | Oct. 25, 2021

[PROCON]

If your mobile phone is more than a few years old, you may need to upgrade your device before your mobile provider shuts down its 3G network, to avoid losing service. For more information on your mobile providers’ plans for 3G retirement and how you can prepare, contact your provider directly.

What is happening?

Mobile carriers are shutting down their 3G networks, which rely on older technology, to make room for more advanced network services, including 5G. As a result, many older cell phones will be unable to make or receive calls and texts, including calls to 911, or use data services. This will affect 3G mobile phones and certain older 4G mobile phones that do not support Voice over LTE (VoLTE or HD Voice).

Learn more about other connected devices, such as medical devices and home security systems that may be impacted below.

When is it happening?

As early as January 1, 2022, though plans and timing to phase out 3G services will vary by company and may change. Consult your mobile provider’s website for the most up-to-date information.

[PROCON]

I just received an email from my cell service provider, PureTalk about the 3G to 5G switch early next year and to check if my newer Samsung android is compatible, which it is.

I'm not a Tech guy, just passing this along.

[Responsibility2nd]

3G?

What about 4G? My son in law is using a 4G Galaxy S6 on my Family Plan.

T-Mobile keeps warning and reminding us to upgrade before the end of the year and he will be SOL.

[laplata]

Thanks for posting this.

[TexasKamaAina]

T-mobile gave us each a free upgrade.

[CatOwner]

Is your son sure? Our older Galaxy S5 phones are showing “4G LTE” next to the power meter. Sounds like they will need to be LTE capable for 4G.

[Parley Baer]

“T-mobile gave us each a free upgrade.”

I was also offered a free upgrade from T-Mobile. I went with the Samsung Galaxy A32 for $80 with the trade in of my old phone. By the way I had an LG flip-phone.

[Responsibility2nd]

Is your son sure? Our older Galaxy S5 phones are showing “4G LTE” next to the power meter. Sounds like they will need to be LTE capable for 4G.

________________________________________________

It’s me that’s not sure. I went back to the latest “warning” from T-Mobile. My SIL has a Galaxy S5. Not S6.

And he is on Sprint’s 3G CDMA network. I would have sworn that an S5 would have been 4G. Guess not.

And anyway - T-Mobile is now offering an updated SIM card for his S5. To get that phone up to speed and 5G ready.

[Macoozie]

I have an old LG VS810, running Android 5.1. It's last final update was May 2017.

I use it with a 15 year old yahoo email account for craptastic craiglist email junk.

Indestructible. Dropped it 1,000 times. As long as your close to the WiFi hardware it works great. Sounds great too. Probably 10+ or so phones later, I still have that one and it still works. Not much can be said for the series of overpriced IPhone junk that I've been through. Will surely miss it's toughness when it finally goes dark.

[1Old Pro]

My 5 year old or so LG V something worked great, but due to the costs of upgrading the software they eventually stop making the phone incapable to my enterprise’s email software and other required software, so it become worthless to me.

[princess leah]

what about Iphone 6?

[JD_UTDallas]

Not all 4G LTE phones have the voiceover IP calling that is going to be the only voice service after the transition. In the settings of the phone it will be labeled as Voice over LTE or HD voice. If that setting is not present then that phone will not work after all voice calls are routed over the VOLTE protocol. No Samsung S series before the 6 has that feature I had an S5 that T-Mobile stopped supporting in January 2021 had to get an S9+ or better.

[GOP Poet]

bookmark

[moonhawk]

What about iPhone X?

[TChad]

Our older Galaxy S5 phones are showing “4G LTE” next to the power meter.

One of my phones has 4G LTE. It will not be compatible with the new settings. It would need 4G VOLTE (voice over LTE), which it does not have.

[CatOwner]

Hmmm, will be interested to see if our phones will still work. We haven’t received any notices indicating of the pending change and our phones being EOL’ed. Then again, our mobile provider sucks.

[MayflowerMadam]

I’m certain my BlackBerry Classic (no Google) will no longer work. It has two network options you can change in Settings — for 2G/3G, and 3G/4G. But the newfangled VOIP isn’t there as far as I know, even if 4G is.

[Rebelbase]

There goes my flip phone. Being a Luddite and avoiding a smart phone was a good run while it lasted. Now I will be brought kicking and screaming into the year 2007.

[TChad]

If you use a provider that accesses the AT&T network, here's a list of phones that will still work after 3G is discontinued:

https://www.att.com/idpassets/images/support/wireless/Devices-Working-on-ATT-Network.pdf

If your old phone is not on the list, it won't work.

[CatOwner]

Thank you. I see a possible explanation for the difference. I've been stating we have an S5, but in reality we have an S5 Active (G870A). I just assumed the phones will mostly the same internally.

Apparently, the S5 Active is on the list that will continue to work on the AT&T network, but it looks like the S5 may require a software update to work. Could be that some providers (T-Mobile) won't provide that update, forcing their users to other phones.

[CatOwner]

*were mostly