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.
Just last weekend I was helping my 89 year old father in law who has a flip phone. He has Tracfone service where you add minutes and days of service. His phone could not add days because Tracfone was dropping the service on March 22. He hda to but a new phone. It was a cheap smartphone for $15.
I don’t see 4G lasting beyond 2030 if that long. There are too many goodies in 5G for the government spies to utilize against the people for them to let 4G hang around for much longer. We already have 5G poles all around our neighborhood. Big Brother is here...........................
“We already have 5G poles all around our neighborhood”
5G high frequency has shorter range. Your neighborhood is on the leading edge!
The phone companies all had their own separate towers all over town and even rented space on the town’s water towers to hang their antennas, and on tall buildings like condos, etc.... Since the 5G poles started going up, I assume they will now remove the ugly old towers at some point.
They did serve one good use, though. When I had a boat, I could tell how far up and down the coast I was offshore by what cell towers I could see.....................
Sorry. Don’t watch videos....can’t hear’em. And frankly, I don’t believe it...the body purges foreign entities. Any “nanoparticle” introduced will be expelled eventually.
My Dad has an old Convoy II flip phone which he has used for years and years. He doesn’t use the internet, doesn’t text and doesn’t want a smart phone and the flip phones verizon are offering are garbage. He’s on my plan so I am looking for a freebie old Iphone 7 or 8 if they offer them and will probably go that route. My Mom has an I7 and is reasonable comfortable using it so she could keep him in pretty good shape, but he really doesn’t want to change phones.
The phone they gave us is not as good as the one it replaced in a lot of ways. One of the options was a flip-phone, rather than a “Smart-Phone”
I am beginning to think I should have gone with the flip.
You can believe whatever you want. But it takes very little effort to see these projects are well under way.
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26691648/
https://patents.google.com/patent/WO2008027078A3
https://www.harvardmagazine.com/2011/01/virus-sized-transistors
The whole point of buying the watch was to track heart rate and SPO2. I have a Fitbit Charge 4 that does both, but I had hoped the extra features of the Watch 3 would be a paying proposition. I have worn a Casio G-Shock atomic watch for the last 15 years. Very accurate. Reset daily by WWVB. Operates on ambient light. It was just starting to look worn. I updated to the new multi-band G-Shock. Almost identical in appearance, but with upgraded radios for time setting. It goes beyond just WWVB. If I get another 15 years of good service, I'll be 80 when I'm looking for a replacement.
Pray tell us what phone, make and model, info please.
The Mylar tape should not interfere with the functions. It’s translucent, but it may block the burning...................
Sorry. Still not buying it. A single transistor is a whole different animal from something that will stay in the bloodstream indefinitely (even if they enter a cell, that cell will eventually die, and be scavenged) and exert some sort of control. It is a nice scare fantasy, though.
I use Net10 Wireless—the phone is a Alcatel MyFlip2.
Our 2016 volvo uses a 3G modem for convenience functions. Volvo says there will be a limited number of upgrade modems available(?). Dealer gives us a different answer as to what to do each time.
This is on par with the car Mfg back in the early 2000's that installed OnStar in every car using old analog hardware. When analog phased out you either lost OnStar completely or paid a very heavy price to replace it all with newer digital hardware. My 2001 Monte Carlo still has the old unit in it.
OnStar — isn’t that the ticket for the person that wants to be tracked 110%.
Not here.
The article about single transistors was over 10 years old, and that is only what they were willing to admit to at the time. And nothing lasts forever, anywhere, so not sure you’re more focused on whether these devices are permanent, rather than if they even exist or not, unless I guess you’re just conceding that point already.
Self-assembly of graphene oxide at interfaces
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24852899/
Self-assembled magnetic nanosystems for cybernetic biocircuitry interface in humans
The average person living today has little idea how far the development of self-assembling nanotech biocircuits has progressed. So-called “fact-checkers” (professional propagandists and liars) deliberately mislead people into thinking there’s no such thing as a self-assembling graphene-based biocircuitry system that could feasibly be injected into people and called a “vaccine.” But the published scientific literature lays out a comprehensive, well-documented body of research that shows this technology is quite real… and has been tested in biological systems for at least two decades.
A “self-assembling” system means that a person is injected with instructions that set into motion a process where a structure is assembled inside the body, using resources available in the blood (such as iron and oxygen atoms). In effect, nanotech self-assembly means that a microchip doesn’t need to be “injected” into someone, since the circuitry can be assembled in vivo after injection.
I went from an iPhone 8 to a 13 Mini for $200. My wife went from a 7 to a 13 Pro for the same price. I preferred the Mini because I mostly use a phone as a phone. It is smaller than the 8.
Nanotechnology has/had the potential to be an amazing benefit to mankind—ultimately preventing some diseases while mitigating and curing others.
Unfortunately the sociopaths have other plans.
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