3G Cellular Network Shutdown In Brookline: What You Need To Know

BROOKLINE, MA — The Brookline Office of Emergency Management has released information for residents ahead of the planned 3G cellular network shutdown to prepare them for possible impacts.

Mobile carriers plan to retire 3G networks beginning in early 2022 to allow for more advanced and reliable network services, including 5G. As a result, some older devices will lose all call and data functions.

Residents with family members who use older devices are asked to check in with them and help them upgrade their devices if necessary. Affected devices include phones older than an iPhone 6 or Galaxy S4.

Several mobile providers have announced when they plan to completely retire 3G services:

• AT&T in February 2022
• T-Mobile Sprint on March 31, 2022
• Verizon by the end of 2022

The 3G shutdown may affect other devices as well, including medical devices, tablets, smartwatches, vehicle SOS services, personal emergency alert devices, and security systems. To check whether a device will be impacted, contact the monitoring company or service provider.

For more information about the shutdown, click here.