As 5G wireless arrives, older phones are about to become roadkill

Wireless customers nationwide can look forward to a big upgrade in service in 2022 — and possibly some major headaches as millions of older phones become obsolete. The wireless industry’s transition to super-fast, more reliable 5G networks will be finalized over the next 12 months. To free up bandwidth for the switch, older 3G networks are being shut down. The big catch for consumers: As many as 10 million 3G cellphones now in circulation will be useless. And while some wireless providers are offering new phones free of charge to customers, those handsets may not be the same as what you now have. Most Americans will find their service uninterrupted. Nearly 300 million cellphones are in use nationwide, the vast majority operating on 4G networks. But for the 10 million or so who still rely on 3G, which debuted in 2002, your phones are about to become bricks. AT&T’s 3G network goes dark in February 2022. T-Mobile’s is scheduled to go adios in stages by next summer. Verizon’s will stick around through the end of 2022, but will grow increasingly unreliable. Once 3G networks are shut down, they’re gone; that means you can’t make or receive calls or texts, or even dial 911. The changeover to 5G also will affect services that piggyback on wireless signals, such as SOS buttons in vehicles and home-security systems. The wireless capabilities of older cars and alarm services will need to be upgraded or replaced. If you’re not sure how the switch to 5G will affect you, contact your service provider.

[David Lazarus is an award-winning business columnist for the Los Angeles Times.]