T-Mobile's 2G network shuts down next year, or in 2024, to be more exact, years after other carriers did so.
The US carrier interestingly continued to offer a 2G network to its customers even after killing its 3G network last year. It previously confirmed that it would bid farewell to the aging 2G option anytime soon.
And now, T-Mobile has finally given us a definite timeline for its retirement.
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NEW YORK, NY - JULY 26: Pedestrians cross an intersection near a T-Mobile store on Sixth Avenue in Manhattan on July 26, 2019 in New York City.
T-Mobile 2G Network Shut Down
As per a news story by CNET, the dated 2G GSM network of T-Mobile is retiring early next year. After its shutdown, its customers would have to start using newer technologies like 4G LTE and 5G.
It is worth noting that T-Mobile turned off its 3G CDMA and 3G UMTS networks in 2022.
The shutdown began in March last year, as it bid farewell to the 3G CDMA network of Sprint. And later on, the 3G UMTS saw its final curtain call in July.
But despite that, its 2G network persistently remained available. And it would continue to do so for the rest of 2023, giving current users copious time to transition to newer devices that could handle either 4G or 5G.
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This photograph taken on January 17, 2017 shows an elderly man displaying his 2G mobile phone in Singapore. - High-tech Singapore will unplug its second generation (2G) mobile network in April, officials have said, affecting thousands of subscribers, among them foreign labourers and the elderly looking for cheaper bills and simplicity.
T-Mobile confirmed that its aging 2G network is switching off on April 2, 2024, which is more than a year away from now.
Phone Arena notes in its story that the move of T-Mobile to bid farewell to its dated network is years away from other US carriers.
For instance, AT&T took the lead to shut down its 2G network way back in 2017 or six years ago. While on the other hand, Verizon switched off its 2G services in 2020.
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Focus on 4G LTE and 5G Expansion?
T-Mobile notes on its website that retiring the aging 2G network should help the carrier focus on newer technologies like 4G and 5G.
The US carrier highlights that almost all users in the country could get their hands on the 4G LTE Network. Its data touts that it "covers 99% of Americans."
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The T-Mobile logo is displayed outside of a T-Mobile store on April 24, 2017 in San Francisco, California. T-Mobile will report first quarter earnings today after the closing bell.
On the flip side, 5G connectivity still needs a drastic expansion to get to that level. So by shutting down the 2G network, T-Mobile could focus much more on the new network technology.
Meanwhile, Phone Arena reports that the US carrier has begun telling its 2G network users about its looming retirement as early as now.
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