I'm sorry to hear about the trouble taking place with service. Even this ancient Pantech LTE Mobile Hotspot device will continue to work after the 3G shutdown - but if you are still using this, newer tech is much better. However, some people may fall through the cracksfor instance, if you're using a hand-me-down phone for which your carrier doesn't have a current ownership record. The largest 2G network, T-Mobile's, is designed primarily to support machine-to-machine devices like parking meters, vending machines, and asset trackers, not to offer good voice phone coverage. Mobile carriers have the flexibility to choose the types of technologies and services they deploy, including when they decommission older services in favor of newer services to meet consumer demands. Crazy, right? The dates below are for completing their 3G network shutdown. // @Consumer_Cell I was instructed to call back with a transfer code. } Just like their advertising suggests, for older people with limited data needs, a 2-line plan can be $26.50 per line (including taxes and fees), with a shared 3 GB and unlimited talk and text. You can also check their website for updates on known outages in your area. // You can learn more about the Lifeline Program and find out if you may be eligible, In addition, The FCC's Emergency Broadband Benefit Program provides a temporary discount of up to $50 per month towards broadband service for eligible households during the COVID-19 pandemic. Consumer Cellular outages reported in the last 24 hours This chart shows a view of problem reports submitted in the past 24 hours compared to the typical volume of reports by time of day. For more on that, see how to make your cell phone calls sound better. Forget running my business properly! Phones or tablets that currently support Wi-Fi will continue to work as before. That means some of the older phones, security systems and car assistance tools that people rely on will no longer. This more or less coincides with AT&T's 3G deactivation plans. Learn more. Find out what is going on. How do I know if I have a 3G device? My grandmother's @Consumer_Cell phone decided to just stop functioning. So now I won't be affected by the 3G shutdown. At least for devices that. Currently the shutdown schedule is as follows. if (languages === "Spanish") { #ConsumerCellSucks, @Consumer_Cell @TedDanson After years of using another company & having issues with them off & on, my husband and I chose your company and switched to you over the weekend. // End Column 3 Header Once you confirm that subscription, you will regularly The carriers had been working for more than two years with millions of customers, many of them older adults, to replace their devices with ones that will work on the 5G network, shorthand for thefifth generation of wireless. Now, companies focus their resources on building out newer networks, while saving money on maintaining or eliminating the older networks. The good news is that every carrier offers 4G voice phones; you can also purchase them unlocked. AT&T's 3G Shutdown - Coming February 2022 Earlier this week, AT&T (poorly) warned. This is probably a big reason why shutting down 3G is not high on the carrier's . These att speeds are terrible! It's impossible to work with their customer service. @harsty19901 @Consumer_Cell However, some of them are specifically there so you can put in a ticket for issues with Consumer Cellular phones and they will call Consumer Cellular on your behalf, if needed, during Consumer Cellular's Customer Service hours. A cellular phone tower is shown on Monday, May 22, 2017 in High Ridge, Mo. Some estimates point towards late 2021, early 2022 as to when T-Mobile might switch off 3G permanently. document.write('Alternate Format Requests') The company claimed in a filing with the FCC that, at the end of its run, it used 10MHz of 850MHz spectrum for its 3G users. @Consumer_Cell need some real help trying to set up a port. The Sprint 3G network, which Boost shares, officially shut down on May 31, 2022. Consumer Cellular outages have been causing frustration for many of the company's customers. Remedy: If you didn't install Honda's over-the-air update by February 22, you're too late and will have to pay for a new modem or lose all services. For J.D. Here's our guide to the issue. by Edward C. Baig, AARP, Updated January 20, 2023, Verizon discontinued its 3G network at the end of 2022, becoming the last of the major carriers to shutter the now obsolete service. Since all cellular network providers are racing to add more 5G coverage . In addition, international visitors to the United States with 3G phones will be affected and are urged to plan accordingly. But as Consumer Reports explains, as wireless carriers begin shutting down those old 3G networks, millions of connected cars may lose important safety features. That means, for example, any Apple device you own that can access Wi-Fi will still work with iMessage and FaceTime over Wi-Fi with your Apple ID. Verizon: Dec. 31, 2022. Your iphone 5s is a 4g phone. // If your mobile phone is more than a few years old, you may need to upgrade your device before your mobile provider shuts down its 3G network, to avoid losing service. Follow him at @PhilipMichaels. What a fiasco of epic proportions!!! The country's three major wireless carriers - AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile - will be shutting down their third-generation (3G) cellular networks in 2022 to make room for better fourth-generation (4G) and new fifth-generation (5G) services. While they may continue to support SOME areas on 3G until the 2022 date - your particular area MAY or MAY NOT be one of those areas that are slated for earlier transition. No model list provided. Consumer Reports has said for years . This website allows you to enter a VIN to see if it is affected. T-Mobile/Sprint will follow, with Sprint's 3G network by March 31, Sprint's 4G network by June 30, and T-Mobile . But on the bright side, those service providers and device makers have known well in advance that this shutdown was coming. RELATED: What Is 4G LTE? // Plans and timing to phase out 3G services will vary by company and may change. Canceled services: Remotely control climate controls, locks and charge settings. By January, 2022, Sprint's CDMA 3G network is set to be discontinued. Learn more about other connected devices, such as medical devices and home security systems that may be impacted below. T-Mobile has stated that they will shutter their 3G networks in April, 2022. Your subscription has been confirmed. https://www.pcmag.com/how-to/the-3g-shutdown-how-will-it-affect-your-phone, How to Free Up Space on Your iPhone or iPad, How to Save Money on Your Cell Phone Bill, How to Convert YouTube Videos to MP3 Files, How to Record the Screen on Your Windows PC or Mac, why your AT&T smartphone may suddenly stop working, how to make your cell phone calls sound better, Lights, Camera, Action: How to Shoot Video on the iPhone Like a Pro, 7 Ways to Improve Your Phone's Signal Strength, 9 Tips to Get the Best Price on a Cell Phone, How to Disable Bixby on Your Samsung Phone. Clifford Atiyeh is a reporter and photographer for Car and Driver, specializing in business, government, and litigation news. I got the following e-mail last week from consumer cellular. No, other devices, such as certain medical devices, tablets, smart watches, vehicle SOS services, home security systems, and other connected products may be using 3G network services. Advertisement: AT&T will finish shutting down its 3G network by February 2022. ]]>,