[20220128]IF12029_3G网络退役：对消费类设备的影响.pdf

https:/crsreports.congress.gov January 28, 2022Decommissioning 3G Networks: Impact on Consumer DevicesBackground About every 10 years, a new generation of wireless technologies emerges, offering greater capacity, higher speeds, and new features. Private telecommunications providers invest billions into their networks to migrate to next generation technologies3G, 4G, 5Gto improve network capacity and performance, offer new devices and services, attract new customers, and generate revenue. When providers migrate to next generation networks, they often decommission (i.e., shut off and dismantle) older, obsolete networks. Around 2016, providers began planning their 5G networks, using existing 4G infrastructure. Simultaneously, providers began planning to decommission their 3G networks and notify customers of decommissioning dates. The dates varied by provider but generally ranged from February 2019 through early 2022. For network operators, decommissioning allows them to focus resources on 5G networks, which many in Congress see as critical to maintaining U.S. leadership and competitiveness in the global telecommunication market. Meanwhile, consumers who have older (3G) devices have v