Carries like AT&T, Sprint, Verizon, T-Mobile, and more will be shutting down their 3G services to make way for more advanced speeds like 5G and 4G network services. This phaseout will likely improve speeds on newer devices. However, what does this mean for your old products that do not support the newer services?
Many of the carriers plan to implement the phaseout as soon as February 2022, with a goal of having all carriers switch over by December 2022. This means that any products that currently run on only 3G services will no longer be operational for voice and data services.
This switch is opening doors to consumer lawsuits and class action suits. If you have a product that will be affected by this switch, contact the litigation attorneys at Colson, Hicks, Eidson to go over possible legal recourse.
What Affects Will the Phaseout Have on Your Current Products?
The FCC released a statement regarding the phaseout and what consumers need to do in order to plan ahead for the switch. In the release, they stated which carriers are shutting down 3G services and when the phaseout will occur.
For now, the main carriers have released statements detailing which products will be affected by this shutdown and what you need to do to avoid any interruptions:
- AT&T: any product that does not support a minimum of 4G LTE or HD voice will no longer have talk and data services
- T-Mobile: any device that does not support LTE of 5G network will need to be upgraded
- Verizon: any device that does not support HD voice will no longer be operational for talk, text, and data
The phaseout will affect any product that is currently using a 3G service, not solely cellphones. Any device using a wireless service such as watches, tablets, vehicles, home security systems, medical devices, and more will need to be replaced or upgraded.
What Legal Recourse is Available?
If you do not switch your affected products by the assigned date for your carrier, you will lose access to many applications on your devices. For example, cars that operate on the 3G network will not be able to contact first responders in the event of a collision.
Some companies have provided upgrades to deal with the phaseout. However, many have yet to address potential problems. You, as the consumer, may have the option of filing a suit against the carrier or directly with the company/manufacturer of the product.
In most cases, providers have been offering consumers a free product to switch over to a compatible device. However, what if you have a device that cannot be switched over—like a car or medical device? In these situations, legal recourse may be necessary. There are already conversations mentioning possible class lawsuits to go after companies that are not providing a solution for the phaseout.
Contact Colson Hicks Eidson if You Have 3G Products and are Affected
If you have a device that is not compatible with new services, it may be wise to speak with a lawyer to discuss your options.
Our litigation attorneys at Colson Hicks Eidson have experience handling personal and class action lawsuits for consumer cases. To discuss your matter with an attorney, contact us by phone at (305) 476-7400 or by reaching out to us online.
