As some of you probably know by now, AT&T announced it will shut down its 3G network effective February 2022 to further expand its 5G network. As such, customers using phones that only work on AT&T’s 3G network will become obsolete.
However, customers who know that their smartphones will no longer work starting February 2022 can request the carrier for replacements. As AndroidPolice points out, AT&T is sending iPhone SE units to those with very old iPhones that will no longer work once the carrier’s 3G network shuts down. On the other hand, customers with Android smartphones are getting cheap Radiant Core handsets instead.
Obviously, customers who didn’t make requests to have their 3G-only phones replaced will receive replacements as well. And it looks like AT&T has already started to send phones to those who didn’t request them yet. Many Reddit users confirmed they have received various Samsung smartphones as replacements for their 3G-only smartphones rather than cheap Radiant Core devices.
Some claim they have received Samsung Galaxy Note 9 units, but there are also reports of AT&T sending Galaxy S9 and Galaxy A series phones. According to an official statement received by AndroidPolice, AT&T says that it did “not changed our plans to replace 3G network-dependent devices. However, inventory constraints mean we sometimes must find substitutes for some devices.”
That being said, if you haven’t yet received a replacement phone for you 3G-only device, you might be in for a nice surprise in the near future.
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Cosmin, a tech journalist with a career spanning over a decade, brings a wealth of experience to PhoneArena. His expertise lies in brands like Samsung and Nokia, and he has a keen interest in innovative technologies. After a brief stint in PR, Cosmin returned to tech journalism in 2016, committed to delivering clear and objective news. When he's not writing or appearing as a guest on TV and radio shows, Cosmin enjoys playing RPGs, watching Netflix, and nurturing his passion for history and travel.
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