Saying Goodbye to 3G: The End of an Era

Verizon has been disconnecting its customers who were still using 3G technology throughout December, effectively cutting off their phones’ ability to use data, make calls, and send texts. Verizon was the last major US carrier to do so — AT&T turned off its 3G service in February, and T-Mobile began winding down its old networks in March.

3G Services Will Be Suspended in December

Verizon customers with 3G devices were given plenty of warning about the shutdown of the network. The company previously announced that the network would be going offline in 2019, but with multiple delays, the date was eventually pushed back to December 31, 2022. In the meantime, Verizon provided its customers with new LTE-capable phones and letters explaining the changes. Customers with 3G devices will have their lines suspended starting on the day before their December billing cycle begins. Users will be able to take full advantage of 4G/5G and carry out smooth transfers with send anywhere file transfers. While 3G will continue to be used in other countries for a few more years, Verizon’s deadline marks the end of the line for the technology in the US.

Shutting down a network that has been in place for years is not a simple process, and carriers faced delays and complications in the process. T-Mobile’s 5G technology, for example, utilizes spectrum that was once part of its 3G network.

The End of 3G is Inevitable as Technology Evolves

It is not uncommon for old technology to be replaced by newer, more advanced options. As 3G networks become increasingly unreliable and unable to provide the level of service that users have come to expect, it is only natural for them to be decommissioned.