T-Mobile will retire its 2G networks on April 2, 2024, as the mobile carrier continues transitioning its customers to 4G and 5G networks. If a customer who’s still using 2G isn’t able to purchase a new phone, customers can go to their local T-Mobile store and get a new, replacement 5G phone for free, the mobile carrier confirmed. Devices include the Apple iPhone SE (3rd gen, 64GB), OnePlus Nord N300, T-Mobile REVVL 6, the REVVL 6X, Moto G, and the Nokia G3100.
Last year, the company – which merged with Sprint in 2020 – shuttered its 3G networks as well as Sprint’s 3G and LTE networks. In February, it warned customers that its 2G network would go offline as it looks to take those radio airwaves to expand its 5G service.
T-Mobile is the last of the major carriers to keep its 2G network going, catering to a niche audience of older users with classic flip phones. But as the need for broader 5G coverage increases, it gets harder to justify running older infrastructure.
According to T-Mobile’s support page, customers who move to the newer service will get higher broadband speeds and enhanced public safety and 911 location accuracy. If you’re affected by the changes, T-Mobile will contact you.
“Moving customers who are on old networks onto modern, advanced high-speed networks means they will need to have phones and devices that can tap into the latest technologies,” T-Mobile said in the post. “We’ll ensure that we support our customers and partners through the transition.”
Over the last year, 5G home internet has gained a lot of attention for its easy setup process and coverage potential. In turn, carriers have been focusing on the technology to provide customers with faster, more reliable connectivity for mobile and internet users. T-Mobile in particular has been notably successful.
In July, Opensignal said T-Mobile had the best network performance and 5G performance. The report highlighted T-Mobile’s download speed, which was 195.5 Mbps on average. In addition, T-Mobile outpaced other carriers when it came to upload speeds, quality consistency, video experience, live video experience and games experience.
In September, the mobile carrier struck a deal with Comcast to buy its 600MHz spectrum. The purchase could give T-Mobile an extra edge in the 5G home internet competition.
T-Mobile also appears to be prepping its first phone call from space. This month, SpaceX asked the Federal Communications Commission for 60 days of “Special Temporary Authority” to launch and test the company’s Gen2 satellites’ ability to connect a regular cell phone call. T-Mobile and SpaceX’s Starlink announced a 5G partnership in August, but it’s unclear at this time whether the projected December phone calls will be 5G.
T-Mobile wasn’t immediately available for further comment.