T-Mobile sunset of LTE has begun

[MTS2000des]

T-Mobile is apparently beginning the sunset of their LTE/4G network in favor of 5G Standalone. This means no new LTE activation starting Jan 2026, with a gradual sunset of LTE down to one 5MHz channel. This means older devices such as anything older than an iPhone 12/13, Galaxy S21, etc will most likely start experiencing poor performance and eventually won't work at all on T-Mobile or a T-Mobile MVNO.

So, time to retire "ancient" hardware (in the cellular world that basically means anything more than 5 years) and upgrade, upgrade, upgrade. My guess is much like all the US carriers did with 3G/UMTS, they will keep a "nightlight" channel on for iOT devices until agreements with iOT carriers expire then shut it down. It's clear they are refarming spectrum for the future as a leader in 5G-SA.

 

[n3obl]

Darn, I have an elcheapo data prepaid sim for my ipad that I use. The ipad is an older model only supports 4g.

 

[MTS2000des]

From the memo, it doesn't mean your relic iPad will die, what it does mean:
After Jan 2026, no more new LTE activations
Over the next year or so, they will be consolidating spectrum and refarming, so LTE will be orphaned to a single 5MHz channel, so your speeds will be dismal depending on density and local site capacity.

But yes, you'll soon have to put the 10 year old iPad out to pasture in a year or so depending on how much you rely on T-Mo LTE. So far, no word from AT&T and Verizon on their LTE sunset, I imagine it's coming next year or in 2027.

 

[K9KLC]

From the memo, it doesn't mean your relic iPad will die, what it does mean:
After Jan 2026, no more new LTE activations
Over the next year or so, they will be consolidating spectrum and refarming, so LTE will be orphaned to a single 5MHz channel, so your speeds will be dismal depending on density and local site capacity.

But yes, you'll soon have to put the 10 year old iPad out to pasture in a year or so depending on how much you rely on T-Mo LTE. So far, no word from AT&T and Verizon on their LTE sunset, I imagine it's coming next year or in 2027.

I still use a pretty old one but the phone plan long expired on it. I tether it to my iPhone 15 and it works pretty well. Due for an upgrade soon I hope due to storage reasons but I'll get the WIFI only one and still use the phone. I also tether my MacBook Pro to the phone and honestly in some locations it really flys doing things on it.

 

[kc2asb]

More planned obsolescence. Rinse and repeat.

 

[Omega-TI]

It's inevitable, whenever sales start to taper off, the greedy cellphone makers and service cabal pick you up, turn you over and shake all the money they can out of your pockets. Never mind that it works, you are happy with it, or that it's better for the environment, no they gotta force you (their cash cow) into submission by forcing obsolescence and make you give more money to the Chinese. F 'em!

 

[buddrousa]

Well they are doing in wireless what they never could with wired service force you to upgrade or do without.

 

[mmckenna]

Abe Simpson/0.00001% of consumers, shaking fist at sky: Gimmie my EDGE/EVDO/GPRS cell service back!!!!

Rest of the world: Happy to be able to stream videos on the go for $2/day.

 

[776]

They also bought US Cellular out. And I had to get a new cell phone because my old one not support the Sims card.

776

 

[KevinC]

More planned obsolescence. Rinse and repeat.

I agree! What was wrong with IMTS????

 

[kc2asb]

I agree! What was wrong with IMTS????

Now you are really going back to the "old days". I remember monitoring those when I got my first scanner in the late 80's.

There has to be a middle ground between Abe Simpson and the Apple fanboys/gals who upgrade every time a new iPhone is released. I would be comfortable in that zone. I see no reason to chuck a working device for the sake of upgrading.

 

[KE4ZNR]

Why are these phones from the 1940s no longer supported?

 

[AFD103]

Interesting.
TMobile 5G is wholly unreliable in my area. I have to force my phone to LTE in order to maintain reliability.

 

[mmckenna]

There has to be a middle ground between Abe Simpson and the Apple fanboys/gals who upgrade every time a new iPhone is released. I would be comfortable in that zone. I see no reason to chuck a working device for the sake of upgrading.

Get something like one of the more basic Sonim products. Make sure it does 5G.

6G is being planned, but it's a few years off at best and 5G won't be sunsetted for a long time to come.

 

[kc2asb]

Get something like one of the more basic Sonim products. Make sure it does 5G.

6G is being planned, but it's a few years off at best and 5G won't be sunsetted for a long time to come.

My current phone, a 3 year-old Android, is 5G capable. It's one of the lower-end Androids. I'm still connected on 4G

 

[DeoVindice]

Now you are really going back to the "old days". I remember monitoring those when I got my first scanner in the late 80's.

There has to be a middle ground between Abe Simpson and the Apple fanboys/gals who upgrade every time a new iPhone is released. I would be comfortable in that zone. I see no reason to chuck a working device for the sake of upgrading.


View attachment 191846

I've virtually discontinued my usage of cellular data and replaced it with a hardwired Starlink terminal on the truck. It's far faster, substantially cheaper, and has considerably better coverage in the remote areas I work in. I just keep a non-touchscreen brick phone as a backup and for voice calls.

Terrestrial cellular in the rural West may not have a great long-term prognosis as direct-to-satellite solutions are expanded.

 

[GlobalNorth]

Abe Simpson/0.00001% of consumers, shaking fist at sky: Gimmie my EDGE/EVDO/GPRS cell service back!!!!

Rest of the world: Happy to be able to stream videos on the go for $2/day.

Stop these posts, I tell ya!
It interrupts my 'yelling at cloud' time!

 

[mmckenna]

I've virtually discontinued my usage of cellular data and replaced it with a hardwired Starlink terminal on the truck. It's far faster, substantially cheaper, and has considerably better coverage in the remote areas I work in. I just keep a non-touchscreen brick phone as a backup and for voice calls.

I just ordered one at work to replace my old Iridium voice only device. Cheaper to get 50GB/mo service than 10 minutes of voice calls per month. Not as portable, but this will be mostly riding in a service truck.

Terrestrial cellular in the rural West may not have a great long-term prognosis as direct-to-satellite solutions are expanded.

It's certainly hit or miss when you get away from cities and major travel corridors. I've got a Verizon flip phone that I use for testing and as a back up to my FirstNet IPhone.

 

[GlobalNorth]

I want my... I want my... I want my IMTS! [Melody from 'Money for Nothing and Chicks for Free']

 

[GlobalNorth]

Happy ham? Certainly not!
Sad ham? Nope.
Angry ham? Darn tootin!!
I didn't become an Amateur Extra for nothing!