AT&T, United States: 2G and 3G shutdown dates
Updated
AT&T switched off 2G on 1 January 2017 and switched off 3G on 22 February 2022, according to the sources we checked on 26 October 2026. The table gives each source and how far we trust it; the rest of the page says what this means for IoT devices in the United States.
2G and 3G status at AT&T
| Network | Status | Date | Confidence | Sources and notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2G | Switched off | 1 January 2017 | medium | phonescoop.com, wirelesslogic.com AT&T confirmed in a blog post (reported by PhoneScoop) that its GSM 2G network was fully retired on 1 January 2017; spectrum refarmed to LTE. |
| 3G | Switched off | 22 February 2022 | medium | spectrum.ieee.org, rcrwireless.com UMTS/HSPA network switched off on 22 February 2022 (IEEE Spectrum); RCR also reports the 3G phase-out completed in February 2022. |
Confidence is high when the operator or the regulator states the date, medium when several independent sources agree, low otherwise. We recheck every month.
What it means for IoT devices on AT&T
- 2G devices no longer connect to AT&T. Trackers, alarms and meters that only speak GSM/GPRS need a 4G-based replacement, or a SIM that roams onto another network in the United States still running 2G.
- 3G fallback no longer works on AT&T. Devices built for 3G (UMTS) or that fall back to it lose service; 4G devices with 2G fallback are not affected by this closure.
- For new devices, choose 4G-based technologies: LTE Cat-1 bis, LTE-M or NB-IoT where the network offers them.
- Foreign SIMs in the United States: no law we found restricts permanent roaming; mobile operators set the terms. Details on the United States page.
An M2M.global IoT SIM is not tied to a single network in a country, and its data can reach your cloud without the internet through private delivery.
Other operators in the United States
| Operator | 2G | 3G |
|---|---|---|
| T-Mobile | Switched off, 3 August 2026 | Switched off, July 2022 |
| UScellular | Switched off, January 2024 | Switched off, January 2024 |
| Verizon | Switched off, 31 December 2022 | Switched off, 31 December 2022 |
All operators and both rules for the United States: IoT connectivity in the United States. Every country: 2G and 3G shutdown dates by country and operator.
Frequently asked questions
When did AT&T switch off 2G in the United States?
AT&T switched off its 2G network on 1 January 2017. AT&T confirmed in a blog post (reported by PhoneScoop) that its GSM 2G network was fully retired on 1 January 2017; spectrum refarmed to LTE.
When did AT&T switch off 3G in the United States?
AT&T switched off its 3G network on 22 February 2022. UMTS/HSPA network switched off on 22 February 2022 (IEEE Spectrum); RCR also reports the 3G phase-out completed in February 2022.