With 5G expected to become the new standard of mobile internet connectivity, this means that eventually older network standards will be phased out, kind of like how 2G isn’t quite as prevalent anymore compared to 3G and 4G, and we expect that eventually 3G will go the way of the dinosaur as well.However the question is, is it too early to start phasing out 3G? Apparently Verizon doesn’t think so because in a report from CNET, the carrier is transitioning to a 4G LTE-only service and what that means is that they will no longer be activating older 3G-only phones. Instead only phones that support 4G will be activated.
This sounds somewhat controversial, but it should be pointed out that at least in the US, there aren’t as many 3G-only phones around. As CNET notes, the iPhone 5 was the first 4G iPhone and that was released back in 2012 and that was a few years after other manufacturers introduced 4G models, meaning that the number of customers who might be impacted by this change will be minimal.
In a statement made to CNET, a Verizon spokesperson said, “For several years we’ve been publicly saying that our 3G CDMA network will remain available through the end of 2019. Virtually all traffic on our network is on our 4G LTE network. To facilitate a smooth transition to 4G LTE capable products and services, we are no longer allowing devices that are not 4G LTE capable with VoLTE to be activated on our network.”