TechPhonesNetwork ProvidersThe big 3G shutdown: is 3G still available? Three latest network set to pull the plugWhat the 3G shutdown means for you. Does it matter that 3G network support is on the out?When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
TechPhonesNetwork ProvidersThe big 3G shutdown: is 3G still available? Three latest network set to pull the plugWhat the 3G shutdown means for you. Does it matter that 3G network support is on the out?When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
What the 3G shutdown means for you. Does it matter that 3G network support is on the out?
When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.Here’s how it works.
(Image credit: Gettyimages)
(Image credit: Gettyimages)
The general answer, at least certainly for those with a 4G/LTE and/or 5G capable device, which will cover the majority of releases over the past several years, is that it will have no notable impact. Only a very small number of those still using far older devices that cannot access 4G or 5G spectrum will likely need to rethink their product choice.
Which carriers will end 3G and when?
The end of 3G: Why’s it happening?
In short: 3G is old. Like,reallyold for a technology – it arrived back in 2002, some 20 years ago. It’s therefore inefficient for those networks and carriers to even be running multiple systems, especially in a world where a vast majority of their users will be using 4G or greater – whether they’re acutely aware of that or not.
Secondly, the way data is packaged works differently between 3G and 4G (and 5G) – the USA uses CDMA, the UK is GSM, so are different again – and it’s inefficient to be running both at once when the world is moving forward.
The number of users expected to be affected isn’t explicitly known, but as a percentage it’s believed to be small worldwide – less than 10 percent at the time of writing. Even so, that’s still not a small number of people, so some millions of network users could be affected in the coming years.
No more 3G connection: What can I do?
Is it such a bad thing that 3G is ending? It’ll save companies operational costs which, in theory, should be used for re-investment in newer, faster systems and architecture. And that, ultimately, can only benefit the future of network connectivity as we move into a world where 5G is the norm – until, again, in the future we move beyond that too.
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