Move Over 3G, Here Comes 5G!

Another reminder that 3G is going away! The time approaches as quickly as the holiday season! So when exactly is 3G going away?

AT&T – shutdown is planned for February 2022. 

Verizon – shutdown is scheduled for no later than the end of next year. 

T-Mobile – all its 3G networks, including those obtained through its merger with Sprint, will shutdown by 2022.

Which devices are impacted by 3G shutdown?

AT&T has a complete list of the phones affected by the shutdown, including all iPhones before the iPhone 6 and several Galaxy models. It also impacts 4G phones that do not support the HD Voice feature.

According to the FCC, other gadgets such as medical devices, home security systems, and other connected products could stop working when 3G goes away for good. They advise contacting your carrier to determine whether your phone is affected, as you will no longer be able to make phone calls with an older phone. Some devices might only require a software update to continue working once 3G is retired. 

What is 5G? 

This is defined as the fifth generation mobile network. It is a network that runs on several new frequencies, as well as old, and means that our bandwidth speeds should be well improved (at least in some cases).