With the launch of 5G technology, 3G technology is beginning to lag significantly. As a result, the 3G network is planned to be phased down in 2022, with tens of thousands of various Android phones predicted to stop working as a result.
Older 3G-enabled devices may cease to function
According to TheSun.co.uk, other products that still use 3G technology, such as tablets, certain medical warning devices, wearables, and even security systems, may stop working when this occurs.
According to the journal, older phones may lose the ability to text, call, or connect to the internet.
As a result, AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile have all declared that they will discontinue 3G services in order to focus only on 4G or LTE and 5G services beginning next year.
AT&T was the first to discontinue 3G support, followed by T-Mobile and Verizon.
According to the FCC, AT&T will be the first of the aforementioned carriers to cut the cord and will begin suspending service as early as February. T-Mobile and Sprint, on the other hand, plan to discontinue support for older handsets between March and July 2022.
Verizon, on the other hand, will be the last to do so, giving its users till the end of next year before officially discontinuing 3G service.
It is crucial to emphasize that by discontinuing support for certain devices, they would become more vulnerable to cyberattacks.
Here is a list of Android devices that will cease to exist in 2022:
- Archos 53 Platinum
- Samsung Galaxy Trend Lite
- HTC Desire 500
- Samsung Galaxy Trend II
- Catepillar Cat B15
- Samsung Galaxy S3 mini
- Sony Xperia M
- Samsung Galaxy Xcover 2
- Wiko Dark Knight
- ZTE Grand S Flex
- Huawei Ascend G740
- Lenovo A820
- ZTE V956
- Huawei Ascend Mate
- UMi X2
- Samsung Galaxy Core
- Huawei Ascend D2
- ZTE Grand X Quad v987
- Run F1
- Samsung Galaxy Ace 2
- THL W8
- ZYE Grand Memo
- LG Optimus L3 II Dual
- LG Lucid 2
- LG Optimus L5 II
- LG Optimus F6
- LG Optimus L3 II
- LG Optimus F5
- LG Optimus L7 II
- LG Optimus L5 II Dual
- LG Enact
- LG Optimus L7 II Dual
- LG Optimus F3
- LG Optimus f6
- LG Optimus L2 II
- LG Optimus L4 II Dual
- LG Optimus F3Q
- LG Optimus L4 Ii
Older Devices to Lack Security and Useful Features
The devices listed above are expected to stop working once AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile all decide to stop support for 3G. Due to this discontinuation, owning these devices can mean extra risk for their owners.
Aside from the lack of security, having these devices will prove difficult because they will no longer be as useful. This is because users might not be able to send texts, make calls, or connect to the internet any longer should they own one of the devices mentioned above.