Verizon still faces a 3G problem

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Verizon has been talking publicly about shutting down its 3G network for roughly seven years now. But in the next few months, it looks like the company will finally, officially do it.

If Verizon does shutter its 3G network on January 1, 2023, as it has promised, it will be the last big US wireless network operator to do so. Despite warnings from home security companies, alarm operators and others that use the networks, AT&T turned off its own 3G network on February 22, and T-Mobile dismantled Sprint’s 3G CDMA network on March 31, its 4G LTE network on June 30 and its own 3G UMTS network on July 1.

The moves affected thousands of devices (it’s unclear how many of those devices were still being used by customers). AT&T reported to the SEC it disconnected 10,707 subscribers and devices when it shut down its 3G network. That amount included 8,825 connected devices and 899 postpaid customers.

Meanwhile, T-Mobile told the SEC that its overall network decommissioning efforts resulted in the removal of 57,000 postpaid accounts in its first quarter and 69,000 postpaid accounts in its second quarter of 2022.

Verizon officials have not disclosed how many devices might be affected by the carrier’s own 3G shutdown plans, though Verizon has delayed its planned shutdown several times in order to give customers more time to upgrade to its 4G and 5G networks.

Verizon’s planned 3G shutdown comes at an inopportune time for the company. Verizon’s CEO recently confirmed the operator will report negative net additions among its phone customers in the third quarter. That would represent the third full quarter of such declines in Verizon’s mobile business – a first in the company’s history.

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