With the beginning of the new year, decisions related to internet speed have started to be taken. Somewhere 5G network is being started and somewhere old internet speed is being ordered to be shut down. In this episode, America has said goodbye to 3G internet. Telecom provider Verizon is shutting down the old network on its customers’ devices.
Revealed in the report
AT&T shut down its 3G service in February last year, and T-Mobile began shutting down legacy networks in March, reports The Verge. Verizon has sent people new LTE-capable phones, along with a letter clarifying exactly what’s going to happen.
3G still working in these countries
Verizon has reportedly told customers with 3G phones that their lines will be suspended the day before the December billing cycle begins. After the deadline, they will only be able to use the 3G phone to call 911 and Verizon customer service. 3G is still present in many countries. Telecom carrier Orange plans to phase out its 2G and 3G networks in Europe by 2030, according to Fierce Wireless.
The first 3G phone was launched this year
In France, 2G will be phased out first by the end of 2025, followed by 3G by the end of 2028. The first 3G phones began appearing in the early 2000s, but the network really came into its own with the rise of smartphones in the US. Whereas in India where 5G services have been launched, 4G now accounts for about 99 per cent of the total data traffic consumed across the country.
According to Nokia’s ‘Mobile Broadband India Traffic Index’ report, the launch of low-cost 4G smartphones provided the much-needed headroom for data growth, with a significant number of 2G and 3G customers potentially upgrading to 4G smartphones.
