Heads up! Even if you think this doesn’t affect you, beware, it just might.
All the major cellular carriers in the U.S., and presumably some smaller ones as well, will soon phase out their 3G networks – as in, shutting them down and turning them off. Forever. To paraphrase the Men In Black: “3G: old and busted. 5G: new hotness.”
It’s hard to break off a relationship that’s lasted a full twenty years, but we’re on the verge of dumping all 3G technology and even some old 4G services (more on that below). The overall driving force behind this termination is the migration to 5G services. By yanking 3G equipment out of their infrastructure, carriers reduce their maintenance costs (eliminating labor on legacy equipment) and operating costs (saving on electricity and cooling) while physically freeing up space in their equipment rooms. What’s not to love, if you’re a giant mega-corp? And incidently, newer, faster communications technology is generally better for consumers, too. At least, in principle.
At this point you may be thinking, “So what. I don’t have a 3G phone anymore.” Before you hang up, though, you might want to double check your other devices. A few examples to be aware of are: home and business security systems, automobile emergency/roadside assistance services, medical equipment, safety alert devices (“I’ve fallen and I can’t get up!”), old Kindles, tablets, smart watches, and wi-fi hotspots. Another angle to consider is any system that uses a landline as the primary network and 3G wireless for backup – it’ll all be good until the landline goes down, then you’ll remember you forgot to upgrade the wireless backup. In all of these cases, you’ll need to upgrade your device or system to stay connected. Note that you don’t need to upgrade to a smartphone if you don’t want to: dumbphones are available that will work with the updated networks. See the video below for further suggestions regarding upgrading your phone.
Even if you have a 4G smartphone, you might not be out of the woods. After 3G is down, the three major wireless networks will require all user’s 4G cellphones to be capable of Voice over LTE (VoLTE) or HD Voice, depending on the carrier. As far as I can tell, Voice over LTE (VoLTE) and HD Voice are the same thing, just different terminology that the various marketing departments decided to go with. If you have a newer model phone, you may still have to go into your phone’s settings to turn on HD Voice or Voice over LTE (VoLTE). If your 4G phone isn’t capable of that, guess what? You’re looking at an upgrade in your future, or at the very least a new SIM card. In all cases, your best bet is to contact your carrier for assistance figuring out what you need to do, if anything.
The three major carrier’s websites are a logical starting place for those who seek greater enlightenment and elucidation:
• AT&T to shutdown 3G by February 2022.
• T-mobile/Sprint to shutdown 3G by March 31, 2022. (Additional details on website.)
• Verizon to shutdown 3G no later than December 31, 2022.
For more information contact your cellular carrier directly, or see the FCC consumer guide regarding 3G phase out.
“All of your 3G devices will lose cellular service in 2022. Here’s what you need to know.” (2:16)
