Why most countries are struggling to shut down 2G
restofworld.org
Global leap to 4G and 5G would cut off phone access for millions of vulnerable people.

Global leap to 4G and 5G would cut off phone access for millions of vulnerable people.

  • Telecom companies aim to profit from the 2G-to-5G transition as governments worldwide face pressure to free up mobile spectrum.
  • Vietnam is the latest country to shut down 2G by offering free 4G phones to the poor.
  • India and South Africa have expressed concern that the strategy would cut off phone access for millions of vulnerable people.
  • shortwavesurfer@lemmy.zipEnglish
    0·
    3 days ago

    What carrier is this? I know for a fact that T-Mobile has shut down their 3G network and I thought AT&T and Verizon did as well, but I can’t swear to that. I know for a fact that AT&T has already shut down their 2G network though.

    Anywhere where a 3G signal would be used, 2G will be used if the 3G is not available.

    • octobob@lemmy.mlEnglish
      0·
      2 days ago

      Gonna be honest, it’s been a while since I’ve been out to the country. I just saw most carriers shut down 3G in 2022. Time flies and all that.

      Also now that I think about it, we may have been installing 4G LTE modems on our pumps lately. That customer only buys a few systems a year.

      I wonder too, say 3G gets totally shut down in the US. Will new phones still be able to connect to it if I’m traveling outside the US? I was bopping around some small islands in the Pacific last year and was heavily relying on 3G for things like maps.