What is 2G sunset or 2G network shutdown

The 2G sunset, also known as the 2G network shutdown, refers to the planned phase-out of 2G cellular networks worldwide. This is being done in order to make way for newer and faster cellular technologies, such as 4G and 5G.

2G networks were first introduced in the early 1990s and were the first widely adopted cellular technology. They were primarily used for voice calls and text messages, but they were not capable of supporting the high-speed data applications that are common today.

Carriers around the world have been shutting down their 2G networks for several years now. In the United States, AT&T was the first to shut down its 2G network in December 2016, followed by Verizon in December 2017 and T-Mobile in April 2022. Most other major carriers around the world have also shut down their 2G networks or have announced plans to do so in the near future.

The 2G sunset has had a significant impact on consumers and businesses. Consumers who were still using 2G devices had to upgrade to newer devices in order to continue using their cellular service. Businesses that were using 2G technology for things like machine-to-machine (M2M) communication had to upgrade their infrastructure.

The 2G sunset was a necessary step in order to make way for newer and faster cellular technologies. However, it is important to be aware of the impact that it has had and to make the necessary preparations.

Here are some of the reasons why carriers are shutting down their 2G networks:

• 2G networks are becoming increasingly congested and are not able to handle the growing demand for data.
• 4G and 5G networks are faster and more efficient than 2G networks.
• Carriers can use the spectrum that is currently being used by 2G networks to deploy 4G and 5G networks.

If you are a consumer who was using a 2G device, you should have upgraded to a 4G or 5G device by now. If you are a business that was using 2G technology, you should have upgraded your infrastructure to support 4G or 5G by now.

The 2G sunset is a major change to the cellular industry, but it is a necessary one. By shutting down their 2G networks, carriers have been able to make way for faster, more efficient, and more reliable cellular service.