US is ending support for 3G: What this means for users and more

By Scott Marlette Last updated Jan 2, 2023

The US is set to bid good bye to the 3G network. Mobile carriers are shutting down their 3G networks in the country. The telecom companies are doing the same with the aim to make room for more advanced network services, including 5G. The process started early last year and Verizon is among the last few carriers to finally shut down the 3G network. “As mobile carriers seek to upgrade their networks to use the latest technologies, they periodically shut down older services, such as 3G, to free up spectrum and infrastructure to support new services, such as 5G,” says the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) on its website.
FCC had warned users that if their mobile phones are more than a few years old, they may need to upgrade their device before their mobile provider shuts down its 3G network, to avoid losing service.

What this means for users

With telecom carriers shutting down their 3G network it means that many older cell phones will be unable to make or receive calls and texts, including calls to 911, or use data services. This will affect 3G mobile phones and certain older 4G mobile phones that do not support Voice over LTE (VoLTE or HD Voice).
3G shutdown timeline
Here’s the 3G shutdown timeline in the US as given on FCC’s website:

AT&T announced that it phased out its 3G network beginning in February 2022.
Verizon announced that it will finish shutting down its 3G network by December 31, 2022. Verizon has made it clear that “the date will not be extended again.”
T-Mobile announced that it finished shutting down Sprint‘s 3G CDMA network as of March 31, 2022 and Sprint’s 4G LTE network as of June 30, 2022. It also announced it shut down T-Mobile’s 3G UMTS network as of July 1, 2022, but has not yet announced a shutdown date for its 2G network.

If your mobile carrier is not listed here, you may still be affected. Many carriers, such as Cricket, Boost, Straight Talk, and several Lifeline mobile service providers, utilize AT&T’s, Verizon’s, and T-Mobile’s networks.
Incidentally, this is not the first time. Similar transitions have happened before. Some mobile carriers shut down their 2G networks when they upgraded their networks to support 4G services. “Mobile carriers have the flexibility to choose the types of technologies and services they deploy, including when they decommission older services in favor of newer services to meet consumer demands,” says FCC.
What this means for tourists
“International visitors to the United States with 3G phones will be affected and are urged to plan accordingly,” says the FCC on its website.
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