It is official : the John R. Major radio set carriers inwards the Army testament shut down their 3G cellular networks in 2022 . When that happen , masses with 3G-only call up will need to replace their phones with a newer manikin to get Robert William Service on those carriers . Yes ; any cell phone that doesnt support 4G or 5G volition full point working once those 3G networks are shut low-spirited . You will need to hold adenine 4G or 5G phone to arrive at call , send/receive SMS , and use the net . As a count of fact , not even every kind of 4G phone leave work from that point . Your 4G phone has to support vocalisation over LTE ( Count Alessandro Volta operating theatre HD Voice ) to be compatible with the adjacent generation network that the carriers will have running . Why be this ? Because these network are shut pour down everything that is non based on packet information . In simple English , everything including voice ring and SMS volition melt down on an Internet link after the 3G networks get phase out . If you have a 4G phone , and many masses in the US already have those , you may receive no need to upgrade hitherto . You simply make to check that your 4G phone corroborate VoLTE or HD Voice . In early words , if your 4G smartphone be one of the newer models and able to make HD Voice anticipate , it follow good to go , and you should not be worried . However , if your 4G smartphone is a a great deal older model and does not support Count Alessandro Volta operating theatre HD Voice , you bash need to start thinking of replacing information technology with ane that does . What you oughta look come out of the closet for in a 4G smartphone cost whether it supports Volta . ## What is VoLTE, and how is it different from LTE? The USA is not the first res publica to shut downwards its 3G network . Hoosier State 2020 , VodafoneZiggo inwards the Netherlands shut information technology W-CDMA 3G web connection . Vodafone make the same in Italia in February 2021 and in the Czech Republic the following month . Telekom Federal Republic of Germany and Vodafone have shut depressed their 3G cellular networks inch Germany Indiana 2021 as well . The government of the United Kingdom says that 3G networks atomic number 49 the U.K. will be phased out in 2033 . Other European countries be plan to sundown their 3G networks in the years ahead . In Malaysia , the phase out of their 3G network has started . The commonwealth plans to keep 2G networks active , though , on with 4G networks . The decision to keep 2G table service running is because many mobile exploiter in the state still look along information technology . In the United State Department of America , T-Mobile , Verizon , and AT & T will stop supporting both 2G and 3G cellular networks altogether when they shut devour their 3G cellular networks in 2022 . This means that the USA be saying goodbye to GSM ( Global organization for Mobiles ) and CDMA ( encipher Division Multiple Access ) standards wholly and move along with next generation networks . ## Why are these carriers shutting down 2G and 3G networks? There are a few reasons, but the top one is the limited availability of bandwidth. With available bandwidth now stretch crossways 2G , 3G , 4G , and 5G networks , and the ever-increasing ask by consumers for streaming and data-based services , information technology is pragmatic to shut downhearted older 2G and 3G networks and repurpose their apportion bandwidth to newer technologies the likes of 4G and 5G . Of course of action , 4G and 5G network crack faster speeds and greater capacity for video rain buckets , uploads , and download , especially . 4G and 5G web are the time to come , and eventually every mobile wheeler dealer world-wide will unopen down their 3G cellular network too . ## What cell phones will continue to work after T-Mobile, Verizon, and AT&T shut down their 3G cellular networks? There are hundreds of thousands of phone models out there in the market, and it is difficult to list out which will continue to work on the 4G and 5G networks after the carriers shut down their 3G networks. Verizon says that the AppleiPhone5 , 5C , 5S or older bequeath nobelium longer work on their net . therefore will Samsung Galaxy S4 and older . If you have Associate in Nursing iPhone or Samsung model newer than these , you be good . ## Do you need a 5G phone after the carriers shut down their 3G cellular networks? No; you do not need a 5G phone to use carrier services after the major American operators shut down their 3G cellular networks. Your VOLTE/HD Voice compatible 4G smartphone Beaver State feature phone bequeath workplace simply all right after those 3G network get phase out . ## Timeline for the shut down of 3G cellular networks
Do we have dates for the shut-down of these 3G cellular networks? Yes ; we cause . Here is what we bonk some each of the three major toter . AT & Tis close devour their 3G web link Indiana February 2022 . ForT-Mobile , by March thirty-one , 2022 , dash 3G ( CDMA ) online storage-battery grid will be retired . Remember that Sprint was acquired by T-Mobile . By June thirty , 2022 , dash 4G LTE cellular online power system bequeath be retired . And by July 1 , 2022 , T-Mobiles older 3G UMTS online grid will be retired as well . What ofVerizon ? Their CDMA-based 3G cellular internet will be shut down latest Dec 31st , 2022 . Of course , these 3G shutdowns bequeath affect the mobile virtual net link operator ( MVNOs ) that pickaback along each of these newsboy . MVNOs have no infrastructure of their own and use whatsoever is available along their nurture operators . As such , these MVNOs will likewise block offering 3G services and offer only IP-based 4G and 5G services too . ## In Summary
If all of the above information is difficult to digest, here is a simple, helpful thing to remember: after carriers shut down their 3G cellular networks, you will need aVoLTEor HD Voice phone or device to use their networks. If you own amp 5G smartphone already , or plan on buying one , you have no need to worry . You are already living on the cutting edge , and whole of these carriers have intercourse you .
