T-Mobile planning to shut down Sprint’s LTE Network in 2022

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Sprint and T-Mobile merged in April 2020 with a commitment to build the best 5G network – 5G for all. Since then, we’ve worked to combine Sprint’s assets with T-Mobile’s to deliver a transformative 5G network experience from big cities to small towns and places in between – and we are moving quickly to build our most advanced network ever. Now T-Mobile has the largest, fastest, and most reliable 5G network according to data from several third-party benchmarking companies. On top of that, T-Mobile’s 4G LTE network covers 99% of Americans. Learn more about our 5G network.

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Across the industry, wireless companies are working to retire older network technologies as part of an important progression that will greatly enhance the performance of 4G and 5G, giving customers a better wireless experience. This page provides information on T-Mobile’s efforts to retire these older technologies and help transition customers.

To ensure all customers can enjoy a more advanced 4G and 5G network, we will be retiring older network technologies to free up resources and spectrum that will help us strengthen our entire network, move all customers to more advanced technologies and bridge the Digital Divide. An additional part of this effort involves moving Sprint’s LTE spectrum to the T-Mobile network.

Moving customers who are on old networks onto modern, advanced high-speed networks means they will need to have phones and devices that can tap into the latest technologies and don’t rely on older ones. We’ll ensure that we support our customers and partners through the transition. We began sending notifications late last year, and everyone who needs to act will be given advanced notice and hear directly from T-Mobile.

Customers who move from older technologies to 4G/5G service will get:

Real broadband speeds that are 100 to 300 times faster
Enhanced public safety and 911 location accuracy capabilities that will make customers safer

Key Dates

As of January 1, 2022 Sprint’s older 3G (CDMA) network will be retired
As of June 30, 2022 Sprint’s LTE network will be retired

We’ve also shared that we plan to retire T-Mobile’s older GSM 2G and UMTS 3G networks as well, but no date has been set. We will update this page with any additional information in the future.

Have questions?

Business Customers

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Consumers

What does the Sprint 3G (CDMA) network retirement mean to me?

On January 1, 2022, Sprint’s older 3G (CDMA) network will be retired. If you are still using a device that is dependent on Sprint’s 3G (CDMA) network or that does not support VoLTE, you’ll need to upgrade to a more modern device no later than the end of 2021 to continue getting service, including the ability to make 911 calls depending on your location.

Sprint customers with 3G (CDMA) devices will be able to pay the same or less for 4G/5G service from T-Mobile and can upgrade to a new device at no cost. These customers can log in to their accounts to check upgrade eligibility and view deals on the latest devices, including offers for a free 5G phone.

Some device models that will need to be upgraded include:

Devices (handsets, IoT/M2M, tablets and air cards) that operate solely on the Sprint CDMA Network
Devices that operate using dual mode CDMA/LTE or LTE technologies that do not support Voice over LTE (“VoLTE”)

What does the Sprint LTE network retirement mean to me?

Sprint’s LTE network will be retired on June 30, 2022. The good news is most Sprint LTE and 5G devices are compatible with the T-Mobile LTE or 5G network and will continue to operate on T-Mobile’s LTE and 5G networks. Customers only need to take a few easy steps:

Replace the Sprint SIM card with a T-Mobile SIM card
Ensure Voice over LTE (VoLTE) is enabled in device settings for voice calls (on applicable devices)

The devices that will be supported include:

Data-Only equipment that supports LTE and 5G on the T-Mobile network
Voice and data devices and equipment that support LTE, 5G and VoLTE on the T-Mobile network

Select devices that are not compatible with the T-Mobile LTE or 5G network will need to be upgraded to continue getting service, including the ability to make 911 calls depending on your location. You’ll need to upgrade or replace your device to access the T-Mobile network and continue using LTE or 5G service. This includes:

Data-only equipment that does not support LTE or 5G on the T-Mobile network
Voice and data devices and equipment that do not support LTE or 5G and VoLTE on the T-Mobile network