Friday, March 29

The 3G blackout is underway and these are the key dates | Digital Trends Spanish


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With AT&T ceasing coverage of older phones as of February 2022, the shutdown of 3G networks began in the United States. If you still don’t know, know the 3G blackout key dates and if your phone will be affected.

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The third generation of networks was introduced in 2001 and was key to the arrival of smartphones, thanks to its greater capacity to transport data than previous generations. And despite the consolidation of the 4G network and the spread of 5G, a 2019 GSMA Intelligence report estimated that more than 47 million users in the United States, around 17 percent, still used 3G services.

What does the 3G blackout mean?

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3G came to the United States in 2002, when Verizon built the first network. Since then, mobile phone technologies have given way to 4G in 2010 and 5G, which began to be implemented in 2019.

Since new cell phones are compatible with the most modern and efficient mobile phone technologies, such as 4G and 5G, operators must focus their efforts on building these networks and save maintenance costs on older ones, such as 3G. or 2G.

In this way, the 3G blackout means that companies will stop providing coverage to phones that are not compatible with the most modern networks.

What does it mean in practice

That your phone will not be able to make or receive phone calls or send or receive text messages. It will also not allow you to make emergency calls, such as 911.

Since you won’t have network coverage, you won’t be able to use apps or visit websites either. The only exception will be some Wi-Fi based apps or navigation.

Which teams will be affected?

Apple executives showing off the iPhone 6
The iPhone 6 does have compatibility with the most modern communication networks.

What does this mean in practice? That when 3G services expire, calls will only be allowed in 4G VoLTE (Voice over LTE) or HD Voice, so that means you will need to have a smartphone with VoLTE support.

Although in the case of AT&T it specifies the compatible devices with VoLTE, including all iPhone 6 and later Apple devices, or the most recent generations of Samsung phones. However, there are some like the Galaxy S10e from 2019, which could be left without coverage.

anyway you can check this phone list that will be obsolete once the blackout of the big companies in the United States takes place or learn how you can find out on your own.

When will the US majors turn off their 3G networks?

  • Verizon: December 31, 2022. 3G and 4G phones without VoLTE cannot be activated on your network.
  • AT&T: February 22, 2022. 3G and 4G phones without VoLTE cannot be activated on your network.
  • T Mobile: March 31, 2022.
  • Sprint: June 15, 2022.

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