T-Mobile has long hesitated to shut down its 2G network, but now the company seems to have agreed on a date for the inevitable shutdown.
The second generation of mobile networks was introduced in the early 1990s, when Nokia was the coolest phone company. With modern phones supporting 4G and 5G, it’s time to get rid of 2G.
AT&T stopped supporting its 2G network in 2017, while Verizon pulled the plug on its 2G network in 2020. T-Mobile originally planned to phase out its 2G network on April 2, but decided to postpone the closure earlier this year.
The company will apparently stop supporting 2G devices starting next month.
Attentive Reddit users 93Volvo240 and lart2150 have pointed out that 2G coverage dropped massively between July and August. Around the same time T-Mobile has updated its network development page to inform customers that the capacity and coverage of its 2G network “is expected to change as early as September 1, 2024.”
This indicates that the company has started shutting down its 2G network. T-Mobile had previously stated that some 2G sites would be dismantled before the network was fully shut down, impacting capacity and coverage.
If you still have an old phone, it is time to buy a phone that is at least 4G capable, as 3G is also supported by T-Mobile and other wireless carriers in the United States.
To make the process easier for you, T-Mobile You’ll save on SIM fees, device connection fees and associated taxes. You might even get a cheap phone for free to help you get rid of your 2G device.
One of the reasons why T-Mobile The reason for the delayed shutdown of the 2G network is that it still works in many parts of the world, including Europe, and therefore remains important for travelers.
That’s not a good reason to stick with a 2G phone. 2G is insecure because this digital cellular standard was developed when authorities didn’t yet consider risks like illegal cell towers and didn’t yet recognize the importance of strong encryption.
Since T-Mobile Although the word shutdown has not been explicitly mentioned, it is possible that your 2G phone will continue to work for some time. You should have a backup phone ready just in case, otherwise you will not receive any signals.
