3G Services Shutting Down This Year; AT&T First

February 21, 2022

Cellular companies are shutting down 3G this year beginning with AT&T.

AT&T was set to be the first carrier to shut down its 3G network on Tuesday, February 22. T-Mobile said the 3G network that had been part of Sprint before the two companies merged will go dark on March 31, and its own 3G network will end on July 1. Verizon will end 3G service by December 31.

And the 3G shutdown will still impact customers of the likes of Straight Talk, Boost, Cricket, Mint Mobile, Tracfone and the other low cost companies — they use the networks of AT&T, T-Mobile and Verizon.

That means the end of service for phones and other devices that use 3G connectivity, such as some medical alert devices, tablets, smartwatches, home security systems, game cameras and other devices.

Most users of these services will, or have been, notified directly by the carriers if this discontinuation affects them. However, users of older phones used for 9-1-1 only purposes may not be notified if they do not have active service with the provider. Users of those older 9-1-1 only phones should be aware that they may not work after 3G service is discontinued.

3G debuted in 2002 and is coming to an end to free up bandwidth for more modern services.

Comments

8 Responses to “3G Services Shutting Down This Year; AT&T First”

  1. Ron Malam on February 21st, 2022 3:06 pm

    Smart home devices stopped working, with no solutions for us none technical types. Who knows how to fix these????p

  2. David Huie Green on February 21st, 2022 1:36 pm

    Regarding:
    “Shutting down 3G and 4G will leave us with”

    Notice please that shutting down 4G is not claimed.

  3. tg on February 21st, 2022 10:46 am

    Waiting for 5g internet everywhere with competitive prices.

  4. Old Woman on February 21st, 2022 10:13 am

    The transfer to 5G should be delayed until January 2023.
    With the pandemic and everything else going on it is unrealistic to expect consumers to be able to afford a new phone at this time.. especially when we have not received any additional help or stimulus from our government.
    Shutting down 3G and 4G will leave us with no form of communication or ability to call for help if we need it.

  5. American Legion on February 21st, 2022 9:05 am

    You can take them by the American Legion off of 9 mile Road and I know they take the old phones and I think they get them fixed and send them to the soldiers overseas and and maybe even veterans

  6. Idea on February 21st, 2022 8:41 am

    @justwondering if they are newer ones, not going to be effected by the shutting down of the 3G services, Favor House use to accept them.

  7. Edward Louie on February 21st, 2022 7:56 am

    You can sell the phones on eBay or any other site, as long as they are unlocked, if it’s a smart phone, keep it at home use it on Wi-Fi to do various tasks such as email, if it is a basic phone, sell it because it will work in other countries in Africa where they don’t shut down 2G and 3G services, you can also keep it and bring it with you when you travel to a different country and using their local Sim cards

  8. JustWondering on February 21st, 2022 7:19 am

    I have a box full of old phones, does anyone know of a buy back program or best way to dispose of these safely?