- Verizon will close its 3G CDMA network on December 31, 2022.
- That is two years later than originally planned.
- Service may be affected before shutdown.
You may need to update your phone soon if you are still addicted to 3G. Verizon (Disclaimer: This author also writes for Verizon Engadget) announced that the 3G CDMA network will be shut down on December 31, 2022. After that, you will need an LTE or 5G device to connect to the corporate network.
This comes three years after the originally planned 3G cutoff in late 2019, Verizon said, and won’t be renewed again. The network operator had already stopped activating 3G devices. This will give people who are still using the older technology more time to migrate smoothly to the current wireless technology, the provider said.
Connected: T-Mobile vs Verizon: Which Provider Is Better For You?
Maybe you don’t want to wait until the last minute. Verizon warned that 3G service may be impacted or completely discontinued in some cases, and that support will be “extremely limited” if you have problems with an old device.
If you’re reading this, there is a good chance that you switched to an LTE or 5G phone some time ago. According to Verizon, less than 1% of devices on the network are using 3G. However, this can still cause problems if you have an old backup phone, connected tablet, or smartphone device that still requires legacy service. It’s worth checking your hardware before you run into any problems.