Verify by Emery Winter, Mauricio Chamberlin, Tamika Cody, Brandon Lewis 10/8/2021
Mobile service providers are planning on “sunsetting” their 3G networks in 2022. This means they’re phasing out service for phones and other devices that run only on 3G.
Several VERIFY viewers have asked what that means for them and if they’ll need to replace their 3G phones.
THE QUESTIONWill people with 3G phones have to replace them with 4G or 5G phones?
THE SOURCES• Federal Communications Commission (FCC)
• David Burgess, cellular technology expert
• CTIA, an association that represents the wireless communications industry
• Verizon, AT&T, T-Mobile
THE ANSWER
Yes, people with 3G-only phones will need to replace their phones with a newer model to get service.
WHAT WE FOUNDAccording to the FCC, mobile providers will phase out their 3G networks as early as Jan. 1, 2022. T-Mobile will shut down Sprint’s 3G network on Jan. 1, 2022, AT&T will shut down its 3G network by February 2022, T-Mobile will then shut down its own 3G network on July 1, 2022, and Verizon will shut down its 3G network by Dec. 31, 2022. The FCC adds that many other carriers use the Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile networks, so customers of other providers may be affected.
More:
https://www.verifythis.com/article/news/verify/technology-verify/you-will-have-to-upgrade-replace-phone-to-4g-5g-in-2022-if-you-have-3g-verizon-att-tmobile-all-phasing-out-3g/536-e733678c-c1cd-485d-9793-7f97c003bcb9
