T-Mobile, PLEASE DO NOT shut down 2G on April 2nd of 2024

  • 15 February 2023
  • 46 replies
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D
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T-Mobile, yesterday was Valentine’s Day, and on the day of love, instead of loving us and making 2G extra better for us, what you do is set a date to shut it down?! I don’t understand why you are doing this? There are a number of people in this country that like to use their 15-20 year old bar/flip phones, 2G is still reliable also for M2M connectivity and for cell phone service, 2G in some cases is also much better than LTE where-as LTE only gets 1 bar but 2G gets 4 full sometimes! I also just got off the phone with a customer service person with T-Mobile USA that ALSO agreed with me that 2G is extremely important and it’s sad it’s going away! Yeah, I understand that 5G is the newest and most shiniest network technology yet but I don’t see why we can’t have the right to use older phones? I myself use an iPhone 14 Pro because I like the 120MHz display and all the shiny features that it brings but I really enjoy using a Nokia 3390 on the GSMT network with an MVNO called FreedomPop/RedPocket, and this makes me VERY sad that all of you T-Mobile engineers want to get rid of 2G completely and I am not the only one, trust me!, there are LOTS more people like me!!!!!! In Germany, Deutsche Telekom hasn’t set a date to shut down 2G and it is running in the fullest capacity there, and they are saying it will stay too? Why can’t we be the same way? And why can’t

T-Mobile improve their 1900MHz 2G network so it works pretty much everywhere and gets service everywhere for us?! T-Mobile, PLEASE listen to us and PLEASE don’t be greedy and shut it down on April 2nd 2024! April 2nd is also my birthday and it will be the worst birthday present EVER if 2G is going to be useless on that day. 

2G should stay even when 6G comes out! Luckily carriers are keeping 2G at reduced capacity!

46 replies

F
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“making 2G extra better for us” ?

Umm… 2G service peaked more than 10 years ago.  7 years ago, LTE band 12 was being deployed.  That 2G ship has sailed, just as vacuum tubes, cassette players and old school CRT TV’s have.

Verizon even shut down its CDMA recently.

D
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“making 2G extra better for us” ?

Umm… 2G service peaked more than 10 years ago.  7 years ago, LTE band 12 was being deployed.  That 2G ship has sailed, just as vacuum tubes, cassette players and old school CRT TV’s have.

Verizon even shut down its CDMA recently.

So what if it peaked 10 years ago? LTE is only a few years younger and still being improved. Plus at least they already have the network still up for now and there are many people still using 2G phones including me. This isn’t fair we have to upgrade our phones to a newer one every few years, especially crappy 5G smartphones that barely work sometimes and will break with one wrong move. I don’t care if it’s a “better” network, 2G is the best for many things. Plus, it’s not just old phones that use 2G, there are many M2M/IoT machines that rely on it and some can’t be upgraded. 

I like using 2G phones on T-Mobile.
syaoran
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Why spend money on maintaining a 2G network for the entire nation when the majority of Americans are smartphone users!?  It's time to let go of your old devices and try out a much better network experience with a smartphone.

Syaoran - I am not a T-Mobile Employee but I could use a new job!
F
Userlevel 6
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“making 2G extra better for us” ?

Umm… 2G service peaked more than 10 years ago.  7 years ago, LTE band 12 was being deployed.  That 2G ship has sailed, just as vacuum tubes, cassette players and old school CRT TV’s have.

Verizon even shut down its CDMA recently.

So what if it peaked 10 years ago? LTE is only a few years younger and still being improved. Plus at least they already have the network still up for now and there are many people still using 2G phones including me. This isn’t fair we have to upgrade our phones to a newer one every few years, especially crappy 5G smartphones that barely work sometimes and will break with one wrong move. I don’t care if it’s a “better” network, 2G is the best for many things. Plus, it’s not just old phones that use 2G, there are many M2M/IoT machines that rely on it and some can’t be upgraded. 

M2M/IoT should have upgraded at least …. 10 years ago.  You could purchase a rugged 5G CAT phone, or a flip phone.  The problem lies in a few factors:

  1.  % of devices that use 2G.  I suspeect that out of the 100 million devices, not including roaming from other carriers, the count is somewhere in the thousands that didn’t want to maintain or listen to this … years ago.
  2. Who is going to maintain the 2G network ?  I.e. what happens when vendors want to push an update, and it isn’t compatible with their hardware ?
  3. What happens when new hardware is required, and it doesn’t support 2G.
  4. Who is going to deal with ‘issues’ surrounding 2G (ie. customer complaints)
  5. Who is going to train new techs on obsolete 2G infra ?

To all of the above .. who is going to pay for it ?

If you’re requiring 2G to be support on its own, it would probably be $5k/month /device + $15/text one way, $5/minute calls and no service level agreement, but 5 year contract minimum.

D
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Why spend money on maintaining a 2G network for the entire nation when the majority of Americans are smartphone users!?  It's time to let go of your old devices and try out a much better network experience with a smartphone.

Smartphones just aren’t good. 2G phones work better, my friends who had smartphones all had problems on them after 3 years while 2G phones still work after 10+ years. Like I said it’s not just for phones, 2G is also useful for M2M/IoT like security systems which will be useless when it shuts down 

I like using 2G phones on T-Mobile.
D
Userlevel 4
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“making 2G extra better for us” ?

Umm… 2G service peaked more than 10 years ago.  7 years ago, LTE band 12 was being deployed.  That 2G ship has sailed, just as vacuum tubes, cassette players and old school CRT TV’s have.

Verizon even shut down its CDMA recently.

So what if it peaked 10 years ago? LTE is only a few years younger and still being improved. Plus at least they already have the network still up for now and there are many people still using 2G phones including me. This isn’t fair we have to upgrade our phones to a newer one every few years, especially crappy 5G smartphones that barely work sometimes and will break with one wrong move. I don’t care if it’s a “better” network, 2G is the best for many things. Plus, it’s not just old phones that use 2G, there are many M2M/IoT machines that rely on it and some can’t be upgraded. 

M2M/IoT should have upgraded at least …. 10 years ago.  You could purchase a rugged 5G CAT phone, or a flip phone.  The problem lies in a few factors:

  1.  % of devices that use 2G.  I suspeect that out of the 100 million devices, not including roaming from other carriers, the count is somewhere in the thousands that didn’t want to maintain or listen to this … years ago.
  2. Who is going to maintain the 2G network ?  I.e. what happens when vendors want to push an update, and it isn’t compatible with their hardware ?
  3. What happens when new hardware is required, and it doesn’t support 2G.
  4. Who is going to deal with ‘issues’ surrounding 2G (ie. customer complaints)
  5. Who is going to train new techs on obsolete 2G infra ?

To all of the above .. who is going to pay for it ?

If you’re requiring 2G to be support on its own, it would probably be $5k/month /device + $15/text one way, $5/minute calls and no service level agreement, but 5 year contract minimum.

I should not be forced to upgrade my phone every few years and what do you mean by new tech, if one tower shuts down then there are more 2G towers. I’m not using some crappy 4G flip phone either. And hey can’t force me to pay $5k a month for using 2G, they’re a multibillion dollar company and since 2G is already at a lower capacity, they can still pay for it. That’s what other countries/networks do that have all networks (2G,3G,4G,5G) and they don’t have problems 

I like using 2G phones on T-Mobile.
F
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you can always jump to another carrier that isnt shutting down their 2G...

***I like many others come onto this site for assistance and to help others. Marking a reply as helpful or correct helps others with like issues when they try to search the site for assistance. I do not work for Tmobile and my suggestions and or opinions are my own**.~~~~ The site here is primarily peer to peer with some TMO moderation to keep the site in order..They do not have account access..The prefered method would be to contact TMO through either calling in (tier 1 support) or by contacting them through either Facebook/Twitter (tier 2 support)**~~~~
D
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There are small carriers in this country like CellularOne and USCC that are keeping a small band of 2G left but they aren’t nationwide carriers. I am not sorry to say @fireguy_6364, but you are kind of a liar. Tell me, WHO IS LEFT THAT SUPPORTS A NATIONWIDE 2G BESIDES T-MOBILE?????

2G should stay even when 6G comes out! Luckily carriers are keeping 2G at reduced capacity!
D
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@fireguy_6364 I have a iPhone 14 Pro by the way that I bought on last Wednesday, so i’m not all old school but I really like my Nokia 3390 and I plan to use it forever! I am sure it will far outlast my 14 pro and people like YOU @fireguy_6364 come here and promote us to throw away millions and millions of GSM phones that will produce lots of waste for the environment, all of those little Nokias are still usable in 2023 and they can be used for another 20-25 more years as long as T-Mobile retains 2G. Stop trying to promote us to use ONLY the stuff that isn’t going to last.

2G should stay even when 6G comes out! Luckily carriers are keeping 2G at reduced capacity!
syaoran
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@fireguy_6364I have a iPhone 14 Pro by the way that I bought on last Wednesday, so i’m not all old school but I really like my Nokia 3390 and I plan to use it forever! I am sure it will far outlast my 14 pro and people like YOU @fireguy_6364 come here and promote us to throw away millions and millions of GSM phones that will produce lots of waste for the environment, all of those little Nokias are still usable in 2023 and they can be used for another 20-25 more years as long as T-Mobile retains 2G. Stop trying to promote us to use ONLY the stuff that isn’t going to last.

You can hold.om to.your phone as long as you want.  When those 2G networks are shutdown though, it will be nothing more than a relic and paperweight.

Syaoran - I am not a T-Mobile Employee but I could use a new job!
syaoran
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I have an s23 Ultra that I bought and have had for almost a week now.  I upgrade when ever something I want comes out.  You might not like the reality that 2G networks are going away but complaining about it isn't going to change the inevitable.  The current CEO is a cost cutting business person.  Legacy tech isn't a cost effective part of the future of T-Mobile.

Syaoran - I am not a T-Mobile Employee but I could use a new job!
D
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A carrier called Telia in Finland is actively improving the existing 2G and 3G networks, and their site LITERALLY states it too: https://www.telia.fi/asiakastuki/kuuluvuuskartta. FYI, to see where the towers are being worked on you have to find the gray towers, click on them and translate the text and see that Finland states that the network for that area will be improved some time in 2023. Telia in Finland is the example that T-Mobile here in the US needs to take instead of shutting down 2G completely.

2G should stay even when 6G comes out! Luckily carriers are keeping 2G at reduced capacity!
syaoran
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A carrier called Telia in Finland is actively improving the existing 2G and 3G networks, and their site LITERALLY states it too: https://www.telia.fi/asiakastuki/kuuluvuuskartta. FYI, to see where the towers are being worked on you have to find the gray towers, click on them and translate the text and see that Finland states that the network for that area will be improved some time in 2023. Telia in Finland is the example that T-Mobile here in the US needs to take instead of shutting down 2G completely.

Feel free to move to Finland after 2G is discontinued by T-Mobile.

Syaoran - I am not a T-Mobile Employee but I could use a new job!
F
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You have more than a year to upgrade.  TMobile has free devices with service.  All other US carriers got rid of 2g/3g… even CDMA is sunset.

D
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You have more than a year to upgrade.  TMobile has free devices with service.  All other US carriers got rid of 2g/3g… even CDMA is sunset.

Knowing them, free devices with a $200 fee. Not all US carriers removed 2G/3G (Commnet, cellcom, US cellular, etc) but they aren’t nationwide like t-mobile. I should not be forced to upgrade to an ugly slab of glass that will break in 3 years or some cheap 4G flip phone that the hinge will go lose soon forcing me to upgrade again. My 2G phones have been working fine, if not better than 5G phones, for many years now. What they’re doing is unfair

I like using 2G phones on T-Mobile.
I
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https://www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/t-mobile-network-evolution

T Mobile shouldn’t have shutdown their own 3G network on July 1, 2022 and BlackBerry shouldn’t have stopped supporting their own phones on January 4, 2022.
D
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https://www.t-mobile.com/support/coverage/t-mobile-network-evolution

We know, that’s where we saw. This post is about complaining to them to remove the shutdown date

I like using 2G phones on T-Mobile.
tidbits
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You have more than a year to upgrade.  TMobile has free devices with service.  All other US carriers got rid of 2g/3g… even CDMA is sunset.

Knowing them, free devices with a $200 fee. Not all US carriers removed 2G/3G (Commnet, cellcom, US cellular, etc) but they aren’t nationwide like t-mobile. I should not be forced to upgrade to an ugly slab of glass that will break in 3 years or some cheap 4G flip phone that the hinge will go lose soon forcing me to upgrade again. My 2G phones have been working fine, if not better than 5G phones, for many years now. What they’re doing is unfair

Just because they haven’t removed it yet doesn’t mean they don’t plan too.  As I mentioned before older the tech the more expensive to fix.  Especially at a nationwide level and volume of parts needed if things happen will cost a lot more.  As I pointed out I am down if they kept 2G only IF the people who want it are willing to pay for it as I want to move forward and not pay for someone else’s legacy network I will never use. Let’s be fair here.

Funny you say $200 fee, but that didn’t happen with Verizon.  People who already have LTE devices didn’t have to worry about it.  Only basic phone users did.  They got a free basic phone that uses LTE. 

 

I
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T Mobile shouldn’t have shutdown, retired, decommissioned, or sunsetted their own 3G network on July 1, 2022 and BlackBerry shouldn’t have stopped supporting their own phones on January 4, 2022 because I like Classic BlackBerry phones, Non-VOLTE phones, 3G phones, or older phones. T Mobile should have kept their own 3G network after July 1, 2022 and BlackBerry should have continued to support their own phones after January 4, 2022 because I want to activate or transfer my service on Classic BlackBerry phones, Non-VOLTE phones, 3G phones, or older phones.

T Mobile shouldn’t have shutdown their own 3G network on July 1, 2022 and BlackBerry shouldn’t have stopped supporting their own phones on January 4, 2022.
F
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There are small carriers in this country like CellularOne and USCC that are keeping a small band of 2G left but they aren’t nationwide carriers. I am not sorry to say @fireguy_6364, but you are kind of a liar. Tell me, WHO IS LEFT THAT SUPPORTS A NATIONWIDE 2G BESIDES T-MOBILE?????

not really seeing as how i am a liar..so youre saying pretty much no one else is keeping 2G...shocking..yet youre throwing a fit over here because TMO isnt keeping it?

***I like many others come onto this site for assistance and to help others. Marking a reply as helpful or correct helps others with like issues when they try to search the site for assistance. I do not work for Tmobile and my suggestions and or opinions are my own**.~~~~ The site here is primarily peer to peer with some TMO moderation to keep the site in order..They do not have account access..The prefered method would be to contact TMO through either calling in (tier 1 support) or by contacting them through either Facebook/Twitter (tier 2 support)**~~~~
syaoran
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Let’s all just buy the Tesla Pi phone and use those low Earth orbit Cube Sats for our cell service.  :P

Syaoran - I am not a T-Mobile Employee but I could use a new job!
I
Userlevel 5
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All cell phone carriers shutdown, retire, decommission, or sunset their 2G networks. AT&T, Verizon Wireless, and Sprint shutdown, retired, decommissioned, or sunsetted their 2G networks.

T Mobile shouldn’t have shutdown their own 3G network on July 1, 2022 and BlackBerry shouldn’t have stopped supporting their own phones on January 4, 2022.
N

I have been with t mobil for over 20 years---I called a few weeks ago and paid off my phones---when I ask to get my sim released--3 different keep coming up with different numbers--they finally settled on an additional 250 for the phones.  When I looked it up on line it seems it standard procedure.  Please stay away from this horrible company---this company has lost its way.

I
Userlevel 5
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T Mobile isn’t anticipating to keep 2G forever because its old technology and 2G phones are not compatible with 4G LTE or higher. 2G phones or older phones are incompatible on a 5G and 4G network because older phones will stop working on the T Mobile network after 2G shutdown for next year.

T Mobile shouldn’t have shutdown their own 3G network on July 1, 2022 and BlackBerry shouldn’t have stopped supporting their own phones on January 4, 2022.
I
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Dear T Mobile,

I would like T Mobile to shutdown, retire, or decommission their own 2G network on April 2, 2024, to make extra room or free up spectrum to 5G Ultra Capacity, 5G, 4G LTE, Voice Over LTE, Extended Range LTE, and 5 bars of cell phone signal for everyone in 50 states in the USA everywhere because 2G phones or older phones that don’t support Voice Over LTE and Extended Range LTE are useless or obsolete. I would like T Mobile to call, text, email, write, type, and send letters or notes to T Mobile customers in the mailbox to upgrade from 2G phones or older phones that don’t support Voice Over LTE and Extended Range LTE to 5G Ultra Capacity phones, 5G phones, and 4G LTE phones or newer phones that support Voice Over LTE and Extended Range LTE because 2G phones or older phones that don’t support Voice Over LTE and Extended Range LTE are not compatible on a 5G and 4G network and 5G and 4G phones or newer phones that support Voice Over LTE and Extended Range LTE are compatible on the T Mobile network. I would like T Mobile to remove or turn off their own 2G network to focus on 5G and 4G because 2G is obsolete. 2G phones or older phones that don’t support Voice Over LTE and Extended Range LTE are useless because old phones will stop working after April 2, 2024. 5G phones, 4G phones, or newer phones support Voice Over LTE and Extended Range LTE on the T Mobile network because new phones will work after 2G shutdown on April 2, 2024. 2G is too slow. 5G is faster. It’s disappointing that T Mobile has spotty coverage, bad cell phone service, reception, network, it drops calls, texts, and FaceTime in some areas because I want to stay connected with friends, family, and neighbors. I’m disappointed that T Mobile is unreliable and it isn’t available in some areas because I want to see and talk to friends, family, and neighbors on the phone, FaceTime, What’s App, Google Duo, and Zoom. I would like T Mobile to upgrade to new cell phone towers, buy, fix, repair, install, make, build extra cell phone towers, get the same cell phone towers, same connections, extra connections, extra cell phone reception, extra coverage, better coverage, good cell phone service, reception, network, 5G Ultra Capacity, 5G, 4G LTE, Voice Over LTE, Extended Range LTE, 5 bars of cell phone signal, and extra cell phone reception in 50 states in the USA everywhere like AT&T, Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS, Cricket Wireless, Xfinity Mobile, and US Mobile because I want to use my phone, tablet, and watch indoors and outdoors everywhere. I would like T Mobile to be faster, reliable, and available for everyone in 50 states in the USA everywhere like AT&T, Verizon Wireless, MetroPCS, Cricket Wireless, Xfinity Mobile, and US Mobile because I want to send text messages, emails, use the internet, listen to my music, and songs on my phone, tablet, and watch inside and outside everywhere. I would like T Mobile to improve their coverage, cell phone service, reception, network, connections, cell phone towers, 5G Ultra Capacity, 5G, 4G LTE, Voice Over LTE, Extended Range LTE, and 5 bars of cell phone signal because I want to use my phone, tablet, watch, and mobile hotspot indoors and outdoors everywhere. I would like T Mobile to achieve their goals for T Mobile customers. AT&T and Verizon Wireless have more coverage, better coverage, good cell phone service, reception, network, connections, they never drop calls, texts, and FaceTime. MetroPCS, Cricket Wireless, Xfinity Mobile, and US Mobile have different cell phone towers. Please send my feedback and recommendations to technical support team, your supervisor, Mike Sievert, Neville Ray, Peter Osvaldik, engineers, technicians, and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for T Mobile customers. Please consider my advice.

Thanks, Irteza

T Mobile shouldn’t have shutdown their own 3G network on July 1, 2022 and BlackBerry shouldn’t have stopped supporting their own phones on January 4, 2022.

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