AS TELECOM companies plan to shut down their 3G networks this year, it’s not just people’s phones that could be affected.
AT&T is revving up to shut down its 3G network on February 22, and other carriers like Verizon and T-Mobile plan to follow suit in the latter half of 2022.
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But as the imminent switch to the next-generation 5G approaches, many are concerned about how this will affect devices and systems that currently rely on 3G.
Such products include home alarm systems, medical devices, in-car crash notifications, and roadside assistance systems.
A majority (if not all) of these products will require users to either upgrade or replace them, according to a report by CNN.
And businesses are urging customers to do this as soon as they can before carriers drop connectivity as not doing so could prove to be disastrous – for example, cars that use 3G to contact first responders after a collision will no longer have this capability.
In the case of home alarms systems, several companies have asked the Federal Communications Commission to delay AT&T’s network shutdown until December.
In response, the FCC spokesperson Paloma Perez said the agency is monitoring the 3G phase-out and working to “implement safeguards” for older phones and other devices.
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Verizon, which was originally expected to shut down its 3G network in 2019, has already pushed its timeline back twice – the phone carrier cited reasons such as customers needing more time to update their devices.
Similarly, T-Mobile has also delayed the shutdown of Sprint’s 3G network, though it is planning to shut down the T-Mobile 3G network sometime by July 1.
Despite the efforts of phone carriers to delay the inevitable, many products and devices will get left behind, particularly in the home sector.
“A few million connected devices in the smart home space still need to be replaced, including my meter for my solar panels,” said Roger Entner, analyst and founder of Recon Analytics.
“Some companies started reaching out to their customers over the past 2 years informing them that service would soon shut off, but as of 6 months ago, many products still haven’t gotten around to replacing them yet.”
For anyone worried about a specific device or service, they are advised to reach out to those companies and see what their options are ahead of connectivity being disrupted.
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In other news, the naughtiest emoji combinations have been revealed.
Tinder has revived the classic ‘blind date’ experience with a virtual twist.
And TikTok has announced new rules, banning users who deadname or misgender others.
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