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A12 TECHNOLOGY
Wednesday 16 February 2022

EXPLAINER: Will burglar alarms still work

after 3G shutdown?

tomers free replacements
via letters, emails and texts.
Spokesperson Jim Greer
said fewer than 1% of
AT&T's consumer devices,
including phones, tablets
and watches, will lose cel-
lular service, but declined
to say how many devices
that is. The company re-
ported about 196 million
phones and connected
devices using its network in
the most recent quarter.q

The iPhone 5S, left, and iPhone 5c are displayed, Sept. 17,
2013, in New York.
Associated Press

By TALI ARBEL 3G network it acquired in
NEW YORK (AP) — As tele- 2020, to the end of March;
com companies rev up it'll shut down the T-Mobile
the newest generation of 3G network by July 1.
mobile service, called 5G, WHY IS 3G SHUTTING
they're shutting down old DOWN?
networks — a costly, years- First, some history. AT&T's 3G
in-the-works process that's network launched in the
now prompting calls for a U.S. in 2004; later that de-
delay because many prod- cade it was the exclusive
ucts out there still rely on carrier for early iPhones,
the old standard, 3G. helping usher in the first
AT&T is scheduled to be the phase of the smartphone
first carrier to shut down its era. The networks we cur-
3G network on Feb. 22. T- rently rely on for video
Mobile will shut down its 3G streaming, social apps,
network by summer and Uber and other must-haves
Verizon in December. of the modern era mostly
The home-alarm indus- use the subsequent 4G
try has asked the Federal standard.
Communications Commis- For the carriers, shutting
sion, the U.S. regulator, to down 3G is an efficiency
delay AT&T's network sunset move. As they upgrade
until December. The FCC is to the latest technology,
monitoring the 3G phase- they shut off outdated net-
out and working to "imple- works and use the freed-up
ment safeguards" for older bandwidth for newer —
phones and other devices, and what they hope will be
spokesperson Paloma Per- more profitable — services.
ez said late Monday. WHAT IF I HAVE AN OLDER
Verizon has already pushed PHONE?
back its shutdown — twice People with older phones
— from an original target that aren't compatible with
date in 2019, saying cus- 4G will have to upgrade;
tomers needed more time once 3G shuts down, those
to update their devices. phones won't work for calls
T-Mobile has also delayed or texting. AT&T says it has
the shutdown of the Sprint reached out to offer its cus-