Cathy Gates was doing just fine with a flip phone, but she got rid of it when she was given a 3G smartphone at work.

“Later on, about four or five years ago, I got my own, a similar phone, but recently I started having problems with it,” said Gates, 65, of Penn Hills.

When she started looking into a new phone, Gates said she learned pretty quickly she would need a new one whether she wanted it or not.

The nation’s major cellular providers — Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile — are phasing out the 3G network by the end of the year. The providers say about 1% of their users still are on a device that uses the 3G network to communicate. But with more than 320 million combined customers in the U.S., that’s still 3.2 million people.

Some of the phaseouts will start in February, beginning with AT&T on Tuesday, and emergency service providers are concerned about it from a safety perspective.

“If your mobile phone is more than a few years old, you may need to upgrade your device before your provider shuts down its 3G network and you lose service — including the ability to call 911,” said Pennsylvania State Police spokesman Lt. Adam Reed.

“During an emergency, every minute counts whether you need police, fire or medical assistance.”

For the titans of U.S. corporate wireless, it’s simply about making room for new technology.

Verizon, with more than 120 million U.S. customers, initially announced its plans to decommission 3G technology in 2019, but it extended the deadline to the end of 2022.

“We’ve already developed migration plans with most of our business customers to ensure any 3G devices they have in vehicles and equipment have been migrated to 4G LTE or 5G technology as soon as possible,” said Mike Haberman, Verizon vice president.

T-Mobile, with just under 105 million customers, plans to begin shutting down its various 3G networks — starting with those of merger partner Sprint — on March 31. Sprint’s LTE network will go offline June 30, with the T-Mobile 3G network following suit July 1.

However, users of older phones that are used only for 911 connectivity may not receive a notification if they do not have active service with a carrier.

Organizations that serve individuals experiencing homelessness or survivors of domestic violence sometimes provide clients with older phones without a service plan for making emergency calls. Users of these types of 911-only phones should check with the organization that provided the phone about their options.

Low-income individuals concerned that their 911-only phones will no longer be supported should consider applying for service through the Federal Communications Commission’s Lifeline program. Information about eligibility, participating providers and the application process can be found at LifelineSupport.org.

AT&T, with just under 98 million customers, will shut down its 3G network the soonest and has been communicating with users along with T-Mobile and Verizon for the past couple of years about sunsetting 3G.

“We plan to end service on our 3G wireless networks so that we can redeploy underutilized and less-efficient 3G spectrum to better support next-generation technologies and services,” AT&T spokesperson Lesley Merritt said.

The burgeoning 5G network is undoubtedly among that technology, but its rollout has been rocky in some places.

Last week, AT&T halted the activation of new 5G wireless service near some U.S. airports after the nation’s largest airlines said the service could interfere with aircraft technology, according to the Associated Press.

The Federal Communications Commission, which auctions radio spectrum bands, determined that the band used by 5G cell towers could be used safely in the vicinity of air traffic. But major airlines warned that flights could be grounded or delayed if the rollout takes place near major airports.

The Federal Aviation Administration plans to conduct further study, and Verizon officials said that while they are launching their 5G network, they will “voluntarily limit” its use around airports,” the AP reported.

Anyone unsure about whether their device needs to be upgraded from 3G is encouraged to contact their service provider.

So long, 3G

Cell phone companies worldwide, including in the United States, either have shutdown or will shutdown service for devices using 3G, or third-generation cellular technology. 4G was introduced in 2010 and the 5G broadband mobile network in 2019.

2002

Verizon introduces commercial 3G technology in the U.S. 1G, which offered voice-only, analog service, came around in the 1980s.

3.2 million

Estimated number of Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile customers (1% combined) who still use older 3G phones and technology.

2007

Apple introduces first iPhone, dramatically changing the smartphone market — which started in 1994 with IBM’s Simon Personal Communicator.

301 million

Estimated number of smartphone users in U.S. Figure is expected to rise to 311.5 million in 2025.

Source: Verizon, GSMA Intelligence, Statista, Trib research

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