Deadlines for phasing out 3G in favor of 5G are fast approaching. As The Washington Post reports, there is a push from some quarters to grant an extended twilight for 3G to help address COVID concerns. Specifically, owners of life-saving alert devices are aware that their 3G devices need to be upgraded, but their health concerns make them extremely wary about allowing technicians to enter their homes.
AT&T has said that it will discontinue 3G transmissions in February 2022. It has argued that no extension is needed because affected individuals have been contacted and have had ample time to respond. T-Mobile’s 3G Sprint service is scheduled to be discontinued in April. Verizon anticipates that its 3G operations will be available until the end of 2022. Advocates worry that these dates are still too close, placing those that rely on 3G in danger.
Groups ranging from law enforcement in North Dakota, to the Alarm Industry Communications Committee have also indicated that they would be crippled by the absence of 3G. The North Dakota Bureau of Criminal Investigation has asked the FCC for more time, explaining that the statewide breathalyzers rely on a 3G connection. “This will have a direct impact on the safety of citizens across the nation who utilize our roadways,” wrote special agent, Duane Stanley.
The switch to 5G has been planned for years, making providers reluctant to change their timetables. “This petition [to extend the 3G deadline] would undermine the evolution to 5G, as it seeks to force us to devote scarce spectrum resources to support relatively few, obsolete 3G-only devices rather than repurposing the spectrum to enhance 5G capacity,” stated AT&T spokesperson, Margaret Boles.
The Washington Post blamed the pandemic, as well as the current chip shortage for the delay in 3G shutdowns. “Companies have long planned to phase out 3G networks to free up valuable resources for 5G networks, which carriers say will bring faster speeds and allow more mobile devices to connect than ever before,” the publication said. “But the transition has been complicated by the pandemic, as safety concerns hampered outreach, especially to older Americans, and snarled supply chains globally, adding to a chip shortage that makes it more difficult to replace outdated devices.”
AT&T and Verizon announced that they will finish shutting down their 3G networks by February 2022, and December 31, 2022, respectively. T-Mobile, which was going to finish shutting down Sprint’s 3G network by January 1, 2022, made the decision to extend the deadline for the CDMA sunset by three months to March 31, 2022, Inside Towers reported.
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