T-Mobile is on the verge of shutting down 4G LTE networks by 2028. The move is part of the telco’s planned transition to 5G SA (Standalone), which could make it effectively the first operator to announce switching off the fourth-generation cellular technology.
The company will refarm 4G’s spectrum in the 5G network. If you are unaware, SA 5G is the true version of 5G because, unlike NSA (Non-Standalone), it uses independent infrastructure. Learn more about these two types of 5G.
T-Mobile 4G shutdown timeline
T-Mobile will start killing off 4G on January 01, 2026, and the majority of the 4G sites will be closed down by 2028.
T-Mobile operates 4G in several bands like band 5 (850 MHz), band 4 (1700/2100 MHz), band 66 (Extension of band 4 on 1700/2100 MHz) and band 12 (700 MHz), Band 71 (600 MHz). The company will continue to operate a single 5 MHz LTE channel for 4G, but the performance will be significantly downgraded.
The complete retirement of the network is expected by 2035. With which, it is expected that the telco will use the available 4G bands for 5G for more spectrum efficiency and 5G capacity.
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How will the 4G shutdown affect the users?
When T-Mobile discards the 4G network, users of 4G and 5G NSA phones will need to make a switch to 5G SA-compatible phones. It’s expected that the telco will offer customers with legacy handsets compatible devices as part of user migration. The practice was conducted when it phased out 2G.
The development is remarkable as other US telcos, AT&T and Verizon, continue to deploy 4G gear for 5G. It seems T-Mobile is giving priority to unleashing the truest 5G with SA architecture, which explains why it is aiming to be the first to let go of 4G.