The networks are starting their 3G shutdown for its preparation to transition to a more powerful 4G and 5G presence in their service coverages. The first shutdown comes from AT&T, carried this out earlier today, with T-Mobile and Verizon soon following in the coming months of 2022.
It may be a thing of the past or an old network connection, but will its shutdown affect you and your users?
3G Shutdown: AT&T Goes First, T-Mobile, Verizon Soon Following
The Federal Communications Commission said that users have to anticipate the 3G shutdown that is now happening, and it is inevitable in the technology industry as it is evolving. The first company to close its 3G networks for good is AT&T, which it did earlier today, February 22, and it means that subscribers will no longer have access to the network connection.
AT&T went first, but that does not mean they would be the last. T-Mobile will soon close its 3G services on March 31, and Verizon will complete it by December 31. The major network providers of the United States will all phase out 3G by the end of the year, marking the transition to 4G and 5G as the modern connections for use.
Read Also: 3G Network to Retire in 2022 with Tens of Thousands of Android Phones to Stop Working
How Does the 3G Network Shutdown Affect You?
It will affect users only if they still use a device that uses 3G only and limits itself to the network option without accessing 4G, which is the next in line. Having no connection means that users cannot send or receive messages, access the internet, or use the device's GPS.
The only solution here is to upgrade one's device to 4G. The FCC offers a "Lifeline Support" program that users can apply to for discounts when buying a 4G or 5G device.
Modern Network Connections: 4G and 5G
Verizon and AT&T 3G network
The world is moving forward with modern-day cellular network connections that bring fast loading times and connectivity for all. The 4G and 5G promises for the world, especially as it is completing its transition to the modern connections that will leave the previous setup of having 3G as the base network in the world.
The 5G network aims to bring incredible smartphone connections and loading times for the world, and it will not be limited to the country alone. The network carriers aim to make it possible by establishing towers and other spectrums that will help expand 5G more for the public to use without losing connectivity.
The following base connection will be 4G, which came to the public in the last decade and brought its faster connection speed than 3G. The Moon will also have 4G connections, courtesy of Nokia.
It is an end of an era for 3G and the start of 5G in the modern world, promising better connections than the previous technology made for the devices. However, users may be affected by this transition if they still use old devices that connect only on 3G and are not compatible with the 4G networks that will become the next standard.
Related Article: #TechCEO: Vodafone CEO Nick Read Says European Telcoes Must Work Together To Push For Better 5G, Fiber Tech
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Written by Isaiah Richard
