The telecommunications industry has been undergoing some major changes of late as giants such as AT&T, Verizon and T-Mobile have been making room for the new 5G networks. To achieve this ambitious goal, all three major US telcos shut down their 3G networks throughout the course of 2022. AT&T was the first to cut it off in February, followed by T-Mobile in July and Verizon in December. This brave move enabled a much-needed freeing up of spectrum space which had previously been taken up by both 2G and 3G networks, creating more room for faster 5G connections to be established. All in all, it’s estimated that speeds from cell tower to device have already doubled on average for customers taking advantage of AT&T services following the switch from 3G to 5G. Shutting down these old networks wasn’t without consequence though — those who rely on medical equipment, alarm systems and emergency call systems, connected pet collars and farm equipment were all affected. To reduce any disruption that may have occurred as a result of these shutdowns, customers were sent 4G or 5G smartphones when necessary while also receiving prior notifications through billing messages or digital outreach initiatives.
However, it would seem this particular process is far from over yet with attention already turning towards LTE technology too. With increasing speculation that this could become obsolete at some point soon as well, companies across the sector must start preparing themselves for yet another round of investments if they are to maintain their existing levels of service excellence going forward into an increasingly digital future. 5G networks offer something very different form what we have come to expect over recent years but if deployed correctly they could help provide us with faster internet access than ever before while also creating further opportunities for businesses across industries such as healthcare where real time data insights could allow professionals to make better decisions than ever before – improving patient care significantly in the process. In order to ensure these opportunities can be seized however, robust plans must be put in place now so that telcos can close any gaps between current standards and those which will be expected as customers look to benefit from more advanced technologies going forward. With AT&T already leading he charge here, it remains to be seen whether other US telcos can follow suit with similar levels of effectiveness or not.