The cutoff date is just the date you can't count on the networks being available anymore. In a regulatory filing with the SEC earlier this year, AT&T called out that the 3G shutdown date and plans to redeploy spectrum / manage the transition, https://otp.tools.investis.com/clients/us/atnt2/sec/sec-show.aspx?Type=html&FilingId=13241251&Cik=0000732717, Our 3G network provides services to customers using older handsets and connected devices. According to a NHTSA filing in November 2021: Canceled services: As the 3G cellular service is decommissioned, vehicles equipped with the 3G telematics control unit (TCU) will lose MyFord Mobile and MyLincoln Mobile app functionality/connectivity. T-Mobile's 3G network will shut down on July 1, 2022, but its 2G network will stay alive in an extremely limited way. @Consumer_Cell Slowed should not mean unable to use. This is a bit of a "gladly pay you Tuesday for a hamburger today" problem, because you lose 3G now and wireless home internet may not come for a while. Why is this happening? They piggyback on the major carriers networks. www.aarp.org/volunteer. Specifically, connected devices ranging from car navigation systems to home security systems to medical equipment all rely on 3G. Consumer Reports has said for years that a car is a computer on wheels, and in many cases, it is also a cellphone. . T-Mobile will still run a limited 2G network, and rural carriers will keep running 2G or 3G networks for varying amounts of time. Automatic crash notifications will be permanently disabled. How to tell if your phone will be affected by the 3G shutdown - The Please let us know what issue you are experiencing with Consumer Cellular: Thank you for the report! 3G Network Shut Down: December 31, 2022! 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. Apps and websites will not work over a cellular connection. AT&T will go first and shut down its 3G network . I tried the refresh feature on My CC & it doesn't work either. This newsletter may contain advertising, deals, or affiliate links. Canceled services: AcuraLink Premium: Personal concierge services to make hotel, restaurant, or airline reservations. What was worse is the chat window was not open at 10 am EST. Yes: E-readers like the Kindle with 3G; life-alert alarms; portable Internet hotspots; kids wearables; alarm systems; personal alarm devices; alcohol monitoring devices and various other Internet-of-things devices (smart home devices such as a refrigerator, security system, doorbell or video system), that may rely on 3G. T-Mobiles 3G UMTS (Universal Mobile Telecommunications System) network shut down July 1. Tips? I can't run my business or even load the apps for it. No one from the call center seems to understand the issue. These are January 1, 2022 for Sprint's 3G network sunset, and June 30, 2022 for the 4G LTE connections, respectively. The Sprint 3G network, which Boost shares, officially shut down on May 31, 2022. 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. In my experience, it's extremely unreliable as a consumer mobile phone system. The good news is that every carrier offers 4G voice phones; you can also purchase them unlocked. Please enable Javascript in your browser and try Remedy: For telematics, Audi is offering Motion for Audi Connect, which involves installing a 4G modem and telematics unit in the OBD-II port and using a phone app. "There are efficiencies to be gained by not running three different networks," said Jason Leigh, research manager for mobility at IDC. 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. Read next: The fastest mobile network in the US just might surprise you. Once complete, please ensure you power your phone off and back on to establish a fresh connection with the network. I'm sorry to hear about the trouble taking place with service. Don't be fooled. It should continue to work normally on 4G/LTE for now, but given it is 6 year old tech now, it may be wise to consider an upgrade to a slightly newer device sooner, rather . Some companies, such as T-Mobile, offered their customers a free 5G replacement device. ]]>, , Plan Ahead for Phase Out of 3G Cellular Networks and Service, The FCC's Lifeline program may be able to assist eligible consumers in getting connected to phone and internet services. Affected cars under the former Fiat Chrysler (Dodge, Chrysler, Ram, Jeep, Fiat, Ferrari, Maserati, Alfa Romeo) may include 20122017 models built with the first three Uconnect generations (the fourth-gen Uconnect 8.4 switched to 4G starting with three 2017 models). @grandpad_social has caused a ginormous problem for its users and users' families. Customers who upgraded likely are facing bigger monthly bills in exchange for the new service. If you still need help, you can chat with one of our live agents on our website or you can send us a DM to follow up. Wireless carriers are preparing to shut down 3G networks starting this month. The FCC adds that many other carriers use the Verizon, AT&T and T-Mobile networks, so customers of other . This means that the following features will no longer be available after the 3G network has sunset. As wireless carriers begin shutting down old 3G connections, there are a couple of issues. What it kept mum on, however, was the . The last activation date for 3G on the Sprint network was April 2019 and the Sprint 3G network will be shut down in December of 2022. Mobile carriers are shutting down their 3G networks, which rely on older technology, to make room for more advanced network services, including 5G. 3G Cellular Network Service is Ending - Goshen, MA Computer chip shortages also affected availability of new devices. Five Things You Need to Know About 3G Sunsets - Cantaloupe #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. But the home alarm system industry has been the most vocal about the shutdown. Were not talking about somebodys stereo speakers switching out on them while theyre listening to a Beatles record.. } The problem: Every 3G device out there will be cut offdead, bricked, uselessincluding the 3G modems in potentially millions of cars sold over the past decade. Below are the automakers that have made public information available (we copied what the automakers published they would cancel word for word, to avoid any confusion between their various brand-specific services and subscriptions). Phones or tablets that currently support Wi-Fi will continue to work as before. // Not just flip phones and feature phones are affected. The vast majority of Americans have been using 4G networks for the better part of a decade, and many have started the transition to 5G in recent years. Audi connect CARE's SOS and emergency call feature, online roadside assistance, Audi Service Request, and Audi incident assistance, remote lock and unlock, vehicle status report, and stolen vehicle locator. What a fiasco of epic proportions!!! All three major US carriers are shutting down their 3G networks. Lexus Enform Service Connect including Vehicle Health Report, Vehicle Alerts, and Maintenance Alerts. Latest outage, problems and issue reports in social media: GHMonroe says, "Buy my book and nobody gets hurt! T-Mobile began shuttering both its own network and the Sprint network it inherited when the carriers merged in 2020. BMW says it is contacting customers. Here's our guide to the issue. Furthermore, 3G airwaves can only be used for 3G, which AT&T says is a big problem. We want to stick with Consumer Cellular because they are not criminals, have not sold our info and we can actually use our phones. document.write('Consumer Help Center'); if (languages === "Spanish") { Savings calculation is based on a comparison of Consumer Cellular's average customer invoice to the average cost of single-line entry-level plans offered by the major U.S. wireless carriers as of May 2022. Carriers may begin retiring parts of their networks sooner. T-Mobile and AT&T will require VoLTE for calls after shutting down 3G This wasn't a topic we'd been following until we saw the news that .css-xtkis1{-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;text-decoration-thickness:0.0625rem;text-decoration-color:inherit;text-underline-offset:0.25rem;color:#1C5f8B;-webkit-transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;transition:all 0.3s ease-in-out;font-weight:bold;}.css-xtkis1:hover{color:#000000;text-decoration-color:border-link-body-hover;}AT&T shut down its 3G network on February 22. For more on the new networks, see our story on CDMA vs. GSM and our explainer on 5G. Future US, Inc. Full 7th Floor, 130 West 42nd Street, 3G Shutting Down? - Switch To Consumer Cellular - Get A New Phone and When the spectrum is switched to 4G and 5G, it will be used by many more devices. (The latter carrier also has information for former Sprint customers.). If the device is not labeled, contact the monitoring company or other service provider to confirm how the device connects and whether your device may be impacted. // End Column 3 Header Talk to one of our U.S. based award-winning support specialists. But the good news is this shutdown has been a long time coming, giving carriers and device makers plenty of time to ensure a smooth transition. Or be prepared to upgrade your phone at short notice. We are contemplating the redeployment of spectrum currently used for our 3G services and project that we will discontinue service on our 3G network in early 2022, and will manage this process consistent with previous network upgrades. Consumer Cellular is an American postpaid mobile virtual network operator founded in 1995. One possible exception may be makers of alarm systems who sounded alarms of their own this year that COVID-19 pandemic had slowed down their ability to go into homes and make sure that systems were updated. Not Sell or Share My Personal Information, Huawei U.S. Cellular Home Phone - Huawei FT2260. Their devices are installed in homes to report break-ins, fires and medical emergencies and includeemergency button and pendant servicesthat help older adults stay in their homes. Despite filing a petition last August asking the FCC to extend the "3G sunset," the prevalence of 4G LTE service in the past seven-plus years, and the inevitability that this day would come, the world's automakers have continued to install cheaper 3G modems in new cars. All of the major US 3G networks are scheduled to shut down in 2022. Even if your cellular service is . Hi there, if you're continuing to have issues and not able to get through on chat you're also welcome to send us a DM to follow up further.