All three major carriers—AT&T, T-Mobile, and Verizon— have officially shut down their 3G networks. Most modern 4G LTE and 5G phones shouldn't have felt the effects of this change, but people with older devices may need to purchase new phones.
Keep reading to learn more about the 3G shutdown.
What is 3G?
3G is the third generation of mobile network technology. It is an upgrade over 2G, helping make way for improvements in smartphone features. Naturally, 3G is the predecessor of 4G, which became the primary source of mobile internet connection for most carriers. After the development of 4G LTE, 3G became a fallback connection for mobile data transfers (internet) and remained a primary connection for voice calls and texting (SMS).
To make matters a bit more complicated, 3G runs on two different radio technologies. T-Mobile and AT&T used GSM, while Verizon and Sprint (before the T-Mobile merger) used CDMA technology. This separation of technologies is why some phones are only compatible with certain carriers.
On the other hand, 4G runs on the Long-Term Evolution (LTE) standard, a technology all carriers use. This standard is why compatibility isn't as big of an issue with most newer phones. Despite the universality of 4G LTE, the reliance on 3G for voice calls and SMS continues to make GSM/CDMA phone compatibility an issue (though many phone manufacturers started making their phones compatible with both).
Still confused? Check out our 5G vs. 4G vs. 3G guide for the full rundown on how each network generation works.
Why did 3G get turned off?
If we were still using 3G service for calls and texts, why did the big carriers phase it out? Simply put, to make room for 5G. You're probably well aware of 5G, the fifth and latest generation of mobile technology, since cell phone carriers are marketing it like crazy.
With the potential to hit gigabit speeds (that's at least 1,000Mbps), 5G has revolutionary technological implications that reach beyond allowing us to download apps in the blink of an eye. As a result, old 3G networks that are inferior to 4G LTE and 5G are no longer necessary as an alternative. Though, we like to think the real reason is that the carriers are being nice to us and making our dreams of never having to write articles about CDMA vs. GSM compatibility come true.
When did the 3G shutdown happen?
The 3G shutdown is complete. Here is when each network shut down 3G:
- AT&T shut off 3G as of February 22, 2022.
- Verizon turned off 3G as of December 31, 2022.
- T-Mobile shut down:
- Sprint's 3G as of March 31, 2022
- T-Mobile's 3G as of July 1, 2022
Did the 3G Shutdown affect my phone?
By now, you should already know if the 3G shutdown affected your phone. For a guideline these popular phone series no longer work to their full potential after the 3G shutdown:
- All Apple iPhone 5, 5C, 5S, and older
- All Samsung S4 models and older
Almost any phone made before 2014 was affected, while several (but not all) phones made after 2014 may not have been. If your phone was affected, you may still be able to use it for all your internet-related tasks; however, you will experience difficulty making calls.
How to know if the 3G shutdown affected your phone
The shutdown of 3G networks most significantly impacted phones that didn't support Voice over LTE (VoLTE). VoLTE is a technology that allows voice calls to be carried over 4G LTE networks instead of the older 2G or 3G networks. If your phone lacked this capability, with the discontinuation of 3G, you would have lost the ability to make or receive voice calls and send or receive SMS text messages.
While many modern smartphones were equipped with VoLTE capabilities, older models may not have been. These older phones were the ones that were most affected by the 3G shutdown. If you had a phone that didn't support VoLTE and you experienced issues with calling or texting, it was likely a result of the 3G network being deactivated.
The 3G shutdown and MVNOs
Even if you don’t have a plan with AT&T, T-Mobile, or Verizon directly, your phone service is almost certainly using one of their networks. In fact, almost all smaller carriers sell service on the major carriers' networks, just under different names. For example, Mint Mobile is on T-Mobile's network. This shared network arrangement means that even if you aren’t with one of the big carriers, the 3G shutdown could have impacted you.
What do I do if my phone is affected?
If the 3G shutdown impacted your phone, your only recourse is to buy a new phone. Unfortunately, the carriers are not giving specific financial assistance to people affected by the phasing out of 3G. However, there are many deals you can take advantage of to save on your next phone. Carriers often reserve the best deals for new customers switching from another carrier. The impending shutdown is the perfect time to shop around to see if you can save on your next phone and get a better plan. Be sure to use our phone plan comparison tool to find your next plan and the best phone deals available.
You can also check out some of the most popular phones below:
Moto G 5G (2025) 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 2MP
- Front Camera: 16MP
Moto G 5G (2026) 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 2MP
- Front Camera: 32MP
Galaxy A26 5G
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 8MP, 2MP
- Front Camera: 13MP
Moto G Power (2025) 128GB
- 6.8 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 8MP
- Front Camera: 16MP
Edge (2025) 256GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 50MP, 10MP
- Front Camera: 50MP
Galaxy A37 5G 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 8MP, 5MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Pixel 10a 128GB
- 6.3 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 13MP
- Front Camera: 13MP
Pixel 9a 128GB
- 6.3 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 48MP, 13MP
- Front Camera: 13MP
Moto G Stylus 5G (2026) 128GB
- 6.7 inch display
- Rear Cameras: 50MP, 13MP
- Front Camera: 32MP
iPhone 17e 256GB
- 6.1 inch display
- Rear Camera: 48MP
- Front Camera: 12MP
Did the 3G shutdown impact Other Devices?
Older phones weren't the only potential victims of the 3G shutdown. According to the Federal Communications Commission, shutting off 3G service also affected burglar alarms, some medical devices (such as medical alert devices), and other connected devices like smartwatches and tablets.
Angelo Ilumba
Senior Writer
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