Posted on 02/11/2022 5:55:40 AM PST by Red Badger
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.
AT&T announced that it will finish shutting down its 3G network by February 2022.
Verizon announced that will finish shutting down its 3G network by December 31, 2022.
T-Mobile announced that it will finish shutting down Sprint's 3G CDMA network by March 31, 2022 and Sprint's 4G LTE network by June 30, 2022. It also announced it will shut down T-Mobile's 3G UMTS network by July 1, 2022, but has not yet announced a shutdown date for its 2G network.
If your mobile carrier is not listed here, you may still be affected. Many carriers, such as Cricket, Boost, Straight Talk, and several Lifeline mobile service providers, utilize AT&T's, Verizon's, and T-Mobile's networks.
Note: These are dates for completing the shutdowns. Carriers may begin retiring parts of their networks sooner.
What do I need to do?
Contact your mobile provider or consult your provider's website for more information about their 3G retirement plan and whether your phone, or other connected device, may be affected. It is important to plan now so that you don't lose connectivity, including the ability to call 911.
Some carrier websites provide lists of devices that will no longer be supported after 3G networks are shut down. You may need to upgrade to a newer device to ensure that you can stay connected, and carriers may be offering discounted or free upgrades to help consumers who need to upgrade their phones.
Some devices may only require a software update to enable VoLTE (HD Voice) or other advanced services. If you purchased your phone independent of a mobile provider, you should be able to check whether your device is 4G LTE (with VoLTE or HD Voice) enabled by checking your phone's settings or user manual, or by searching your phone's model number on the internet, to determine whether you need to purchase a new device or install a software update.
Does this just impact phones?
No, other devices, such as certain medical devices, tablets, smart watches, vehicle SOS services, home security systems, and other connected products may be using 3G network services. And don't forget about devices that use cellular connectivity as a back-up when a wired internet connection goes down. If the device is not labeled, contact the monitoring company or other service provider to confirm how the device connects and whether your device may be impacted.
Why are 3G networks being phased out?
As mobile carriers seek to upgrade their networks to use the latest technologies, they periodically shut down older services, such as 3G, to free up spectrum and infrastructure to support new services, such as 5G. Similar transitions have happened before. For example, some mobile carriers shut down their 2G networks when they upgraded their networks to support 4G services. Mobile carriers have the flexibility to choose the types of technologies and services they deploy, including when they decommission older services in favor of newer services to meet consumer demands.
Need Other Help Staying Connected?
As mentioned above, your mobile service provider may be offering special deals on new devices, including some deals that might include a free cell phone.
In addition, although they do not cover the cost of new devices, other FCC programs may be able to assist eligible consumers with the cost of phone or internet services:
The FCC's Lifeline program may be able to assist eligible consumers in getting connected to phone and internet services. The program provides a discount on phone service for qualifying low-income consumers to ensure that all Americans have the opportunities and security that phone service brings, including being able to connect to jobs, family and emergency services. You can learn more about the Lifeline Program and find out if you may be eligible here. In addition, The FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit Program provides a temporary discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households during the COVID-19 pandemic. You can learn more about the Emergency Broadband Benefit Program, what it covers, and find out if you may be eligible here.
Additional Resources
To learn more about 5G, visit our FAQs page.
For more on the FCC's 5G strategy, visit the FCC's America's 5G Future.
For more information on consumer issues, visit the FCC's Consumer Help Center at www.fcc.gov/consumers.
Alternate formats
To request this article in an alternate format - braille, large print, Word or text document or audio - write or call us at the address or phone number at the bottom of the page, or send an email to fcc504@fcc.gov.
PinG!................
This is only pushing too many people into far more expensive phones. Upgrades not available for most cheaper phones.
I would hope that if they don’t reach a certain threshold, a carrier cannot turn off 911 and 3G. Time will tell.
I and the wife for one won’t do a thing until it stops working. Nothing out there inexpensive anymore.
My wife has a 2016 Jeep Cherokee that uses 3G for OTA services. It will go dark, but I don’t think we use any of the 3G services anyway. At least we don’t pay for them.
Planned obsolescence. So those old cell phones that they used to give to women and elderly for emergency calls, they will no longer work.
Interesting..
Do older cars/ boats use 3G for their GPS/ Nav systems?
The 5G move is really only for Big Tech profit. Almost no one will get faster service, in fact the rural customers are getting screwed as stuff is shutdown.
AT&T gave us a cheap replacement phone. You get what you pay for but it works
T-Mobile/Sprint tech dept told me yesterday that big changes were coming by June 1. Didn’t go into great detail but said changes were coming soon.
I recently upgraded my and my wife’s iPhones to 5G phones. I had an iPhone 7 and she had a 6-S. They were just eligible for a trade-in if we switched from T-Mobile to ATT. Mine qualified for an iPhone 13 and hers for an iPhone 12. It was not an even swap, but the trade-in covered a lot of the expense. We are not phone nuts and usually use one until it wears out or won’t run current apps. Because of the coming push to 5G I wanted to upgrade while our old phones were still tradeable.
I kept my old phones charged as emergency 911 devices. Oh well
On a sort of related subject, the wife hangs on to her cell phones for a long time. Back in the day we got a letter from at&t saying we’d have to upgrade her phone by a certain date because they were turning off ANALOG services. Like I said it was back in the day.
When we went to the phone store we told the kid in the store what was happening. When we showed him the analog phone he says “Wow I’ve heard about these but never actually seen one” kinda like it was an artifact from prehistoric time. Then he called all the other employees out of the back room to check it out and they they were amazed......it was hilarious. Lol!
Yep, I’m involved with this at my company. In process of doing it.
Doubles as a weapon and in a pinch you can use it to drive nails.
Probably require you to get vaxxed to make calls.
ATT advised me two years ago to get a new I phone Because they would no longer be supporting 3G.
Way back in the day I worked at Motorola when they were rolling out the very first commercially deployed CDMA system which was I guess 2.5G?.
Still basically all the same basic principles (all kinds of different frequencies change the deployment strategies for individual systems) with lots of marketing terms blended in and the backend messaging changed around to get data speeds up.
Yep that’s kinda how it was....sheer amazement.
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