3G

3G is the third generation technology standard for broadband s, succeeding 2G, GPRS, and EDGE for faster data transfer. This is based on a set of standards used for mobile devices and mobile telecommunications use services and networks that comply with the International Mobile Telecommunications-2000 (IMT-2000) specifications by the. 3G finds application in wireless voice telephony, access, fixed wireless Internet access, video calls and mobile TV. Carriers in the United States began retiring 3G networks in 2022 to make room for more advanced wireless services. Users of older phones were advised to upgrade to newer models (iPhone 6 and later) to avoid loss of service.

History
3G telecommunication networks support services that provide an information transfer rate of at least 144 kbit/s. Later 3G releases, often denoted (HSPA) and  (HSPA+), also provide  access of several Mbit/s to s and s in laptop computers. This ensures it can be applied to wireless voice telephony, mobile Internet access, fixed wireless Internet access, video calls and mobile TV technologies. However, in early 2012, was criticized for marketing their HSPA+ infrastructure as "4G" for iPhone 4S.

Deployment
A new generation of cellular standards has appeared approximately every tenth year since 1G systems were introduced in 1979 and the early to mid-1980s. Each generation is characterized by new frequency bands, higher data rates and non–backward-compatible transmission technology. The first commercial 3G networks were introduced in mid 2001.

Japan was one of the first countries to adopt 3G, the reason being the process of 3G spectrum allocation, which in Japan was awarded without much upfront cost. Frequency spectrum was allocated in the US and Europe based on auctioning, thereby requiring a huge initial investment for any company wishing to provide 3G services. European companies collectively paid over 100 billion dollars in their spectrum auctions.

The iPhone 3G, released in July 2008, was the first Apple device to support 3G connectivity. In September 2012, Apple introduced the iPhone 5, the first model with support for 4G LTE.

Retirement
European carriers, such as O2 and Telekom, began gradually shutting down 3G networks across Europe in 2020 to make room for faster 4G and 5G services. On March 30, 2021, Verizon announced that it would shut off its 3G CDMA network in the United States on December 31, 2022 and strongly encouraged users of older mobile phones to upgrade to supported 4G or 5G models. AT&T began shutting down its GSM-based 3G network on February 22, 2022. 's old 3G CDMA network was shut down on March 31, 2022. T-Mobile shut down its UMTS network on July 1, 2022. The shutdowns also affected early 4G phones that do not support (iPhone 5C, 5S and earlier). Other affected devices included the 3G-enabled original iPad and iPad 2.