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AT&T to shutter 2G Network by the end of the year

Discussion in 'GENERAL Wireless Discussion' started by QLR, Apr 28, 2016.

  1. QLR

    QLR RIP Note!
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    Death Star is shutting down its 2G by years end. They have migrated 6 million customers in the last year 12 months... Only "Internet of things" devices remain.

    Most consumers connect to AT&T via 3G and 4G. I guess that makes sense... I remember back when AT&T bought some of those Alltel assets, they skipped the 2G and went with 3G and/or LTE. Folks who didn't have 3G phones were screwed in the Alltel areas.

    So if you have an ancient 2G phone, time to get a 3G or LTE phone.

    http://www.wirelessweek.com/news/2016/04/t-planning-shut-down-its-2g-network-end-2016

    Sent from a telephone.
     
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    #1 QLR, Apr 28, 2016
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  2. KevinJames

    KevinJames WA's 1st retired mod
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    Um, if anyone has an ancient 2G phone, they probably are too ancient themselves to really matter. (And that's coming from a 65-yr-old!) LOL
     
    #2 KevinJames, Apr 28, 2016
  3. QLR

    QLR RIP Note!
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    Ha!

    But you'd be amazed... As long as it works, some folks don't care.

    People usually end up upgrading when their phone breaks anyway... Or in the case of my mom, technology leaves you behind.

    Sent from a telephone.
     
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    #3 QLR, Apr 28, 2016
  4. dmapr

    dmapr Silver Senior Member
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    I wonder if AT&T has overlayed all of it's footprint with at least 3G or whether this will be a repeat of the TDMA sunset where some areas just lost coverage.
     
    #4 dmapr, Apr 28, 2016
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  5. palandri

    palandri Former Palm Guy
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    I thought they shutoff 2G a few years ago, or maybe they were just talking about it a few years ago.
     
    #5 palandri, Apr 29, 2016
  6. dmapr

    dmapr Silver Senior Member
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    They did shut down the TDMA sometime in 2007-2008, is that what you're thinking about?
     
    #6 dmapr, Apr 29, 2016
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  7. QLR

    QLR RIP Note!
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    I would think they would have overlaid areas with at least 3G by now. New build outs excluded 2G, so that has helped. And in some areas, 2G spectrum has been repurposed
    That was analog and TDMA (not even 1G) services...most of the carriers shut theirs down at the same time (or within a few months of each other)
    I concur.

    Sent from a telephone.
     
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    #7 QLR, Apr 29, 2016
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  8. palandri

    palandri Former Palm Guy
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    That must have been what I was thinking of.
     
    #8 palandri, Apr 29, 2016
  9. RadioRaiders

    RadioRaiders RF Black-Belt
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    The operator I work with here in Europe is also ready to switch off it's 2G network, but the only thing really stopping them is M2M type devices, eg. credit card machines in alot of restaurants use modems with only a GSM connection. But as far as coverage for regular subscribers goes, it's no problem.
     
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    #9 RadioRaiders, Apr 29, 2016
  10. QLR

    QLR RIP Note!
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    Comparison:

    From what little searching I've done, Verizon plans to keep 1X and EVDO until 2021. T-Mobile plans to keep 2G going to 2020 for the M2M devices. Not sure about Sprint.

    Sent from a telephone.
     
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    #10 QLR, Apr 29, 2016
  11. dmapr

    dmapr Silver Senior Member
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    I wonder if AT&T has moved enough of their M2M base to 3G and can afford to either lose the remaining ones or force upgrade them at AT&T's expense.
     
    #11 dmapr, Apr 29, 2016
  12. viewfly

    viewfly Mobile RF Advisor
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    I would think 2G service (GSM) would be minimal by now.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     
    #12 viewfly, Apr 29, 2016
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