Lo que significa para usted el fin del servicio 3G

3G fue una vez el estándar de oro para Internet celular, pero hace mucho tiempo que fue reemplazado por 4G y ahora por 5G . De hecho, este año, los operadores inalámbricos estadounidenses como Verizon, T-Mobile y AT&T suspenderán los datos móviles 3G . Aquellos que tienen dispositivos relativamente nuevos probablemente ni siquiera notarán un cambio, porque ya se cambiaron a los servicios más nuevos. Sin embargo, hay muchos teléfonos antiguos y dispositivos inteligentes que comenzarán a perder conectividad. Es especialmente un problema para cosas como la electrónica del automóvil y los sistemas de seguridad del hogar que se construyeron con una conexión 3G en mente, ya que esos productos son caros y están destinados a mantenerse durante varios años.

3G es simplemente la abreviatura de la tercera generación de estándares de banda ancha inalámbrica acordados por la industria celular, con una velocidad de datos mínima de 144 kilobits por segundo. La instalación y el servicio 3G comenzaron a implementarse a principios de la década de 2000 y se volverían mucho más populares una vez que la era de los teléfonos inteligentes comenzó a aumentar alrededor de 2008. De hecho, la primera actualización importante de Apple para el iPhone se denominó "3G" y promocionó su velocidad inalámbrica rápida. capacidades de Internet.

Al mismo tiempo que se generalizaba el uso de 3G, se estaba desarrollando su sucesor, 4G LTE . 4G poseía capacidades muy superiores, con velocidades de descarga de hasta 100 megabits por segundo, menor latencia y mayor alcance. En la década de 2010, LTE comenzó a reemplazar la cobertura 3G como el estándar más popular. Sin embargo, muchos dispositivos lanzados en ese momento eran compatibles con ambas señales.

En la década de 2020, la industria celular está preparando la infraestructura para 5G, que utiliza antenas de mayor frecuencia para tareas exigentes como la transmisión de video de alta definición. 5G ofrece velocidades de descarga ultrarrápidas de 20 gigabits por segundo , pero requiere muchos más transmisores que los estándares anteriores.

¿Por qué y cómo finaliza el servicio 3G?

In order to understand the discontinuation of 3G, we talked with Mark Richardson, a correspondent for The Big Phone Store over in the U.K. "One of the reasons why 3G is to be discontinued is due to infrastructure. When new technologies such as 5G are created, maintaining some or all older technologies can be a costly endeavor," says Richardson via email. "Another reason is that it frees up the spectrum, allowing more devices to be able to use 5G without worrying about clashes with older 3G technology."

Verizon claims that less than 1 percent of its customer base is still using 3G in 2022. AT&T says the same thing. Phones often get replaced every few years, after all. On the other hand, there are many devices apart from smartphones that could rely on 3G. A statement by the Federal Communications Commission mentions that "medical devices, tablets, smartwatches, vehicle SOS services, [and] home security systems" may be affected. Security and alarm systems are a particular concern because many older installations are still in use today.

Here are the shutdown plans of the three major networks:

AT&T

T-Mobile/Sprint

Verizon

How Will Phones be Affected?

Any phone that is not capable of either 4G LTE or 5G connection will see its cellular service suspended. This includes internet data, texting, voice calling, as well as 911 calls. However, many phones manufactured in the 2010s are compatible with both 3G and 4G services and will still be able to access 4G after the shutdown. Some 4G connected phones still rely on 3G signal for voice calls, so if your phone isn't "HD Voice" (high-definition voice calling) compatible, it could lose the ability to make calls once 3G service is disconnected. Some models will allow HD Voice to be enabled via software update.

If the device features Wi-Fi connectivity, it will still be able to access the web and stream content through a wireless router even if it can't send calls or texts via cellular connection. If you're unsure whether your phone model will be affected, contact your carrier for more details. They may even offer discount deals for those who switch from old model devices.

How Will Other Devices be Affected?

"Any other devices, such as navigation systems, that are 3G only will lose certain functionality. They will still be able to turn on and any process that does not require a network will still be able to be performed, but things like updates will not be available. For example, a Sat-Nav will not be able to show live traffic reports," says Richardson. Devices which use a 3G SIM card for live information will lose some or all online functionality, although some may have firmware updates available to alleviate the problem.

According to Consumer Reports, many older vehicle models have emergency contact features which can use a 3G signal to automatically alert rescue and medical personnel in the event of a crash. The website mentions that cars from Chrysler, Dodge, Hyundai, Jeep, Lexus, Nissan, Ram and Toyota are affected, some as recently as the 2021 model year:

Home security and alarm installations are another major use case for 3G. A report from Axios says as many as 2 million fire and burglar alarms in the United States rely on 3G services to alert authorities. The industry is trying to keep up with the demand for updates, but chip supply issues and the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic have slowed the process. If your home uses a wireless security system, contact the installation company for more information and possible update plans.

Now That's Interesting

Mark Richardson recommends GSM Arena as an online resource for determining whether your device is compatible with 4G and 5G. The website features an extensive catalog of mobile phone specifications going back many years.