AT&T has announced its plans to phase out the obsolete 2G network to improve its 3G service with a speedier technology known as HSPA+. The second largest cell phone company in the United States has worked at a rapid pace when it comes to bolstering its cell phone service on the 3G and 4G LTE front — especially with its recent attempts to acquire more spectrum.
In a letter, the death star warned customers if they don’t switch out of their older 2G phones they might not be able to make or receive calls, and they could “experience degradation of wireless service in certain areas.” Furthermore, the company made it clear that so far this message has gone out to customers only in the New York metropolitan area, and that the program was voluntary, as most 2G phones would continue to work. Eventually, subscribers will have to make the change, as cellphones that run on 2G networks on the 1900-megahertz band will lose all service.
That said, AT&T is just doing the normal due diligence when it comes to upgrading its network, and in order for it to make the full transition, it has to move those operating dumb phones into more up to date cell offerings. This has to be done so AT&T can use the extra bandwidth to vastly improve its 3G network for those crazed data junkies out there. You know who you are.