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3G CDMA Network Retirement for Business

Overview

Verizon continues to upgrade its network for businesses, in partnership with device manufacturers, to better serve you.  Virtually all traffic is on our 4G LTE (4G) & 5G networks which offer superior performance compared to previous generations of networks.

For several years now we've publicly stated that our 3G CDMA network for business and consumers is being decommissioned. This will be completed by December 31,  2022. As previously communicated, Verizon has already discontinued many of our 3G (CDMA) and 4G Non-VoLTE device management functions such as activations and plan changes while providing limited troubleshooting of these devices.

Attention:  As of January 3rd, 2023, Verizon has decommissioned its CDMA Network.

Verizon is focused on giving customers the best network and technology. For this reason, we will be retiring our 3G network by December 31, 2022. To help transition customers to 4G or 5G we are creating plans that support these devices.  Verizon’s 4G and 5G networks and technologies are superior to our previous generation networks.

Verizon continues to build for the future, evolving from the CDMA 1xRTT launch in 2001, to the 4G network in 2010 and the recent introduction of 5G in 2019. We want to keep you connected to the network more people rely on. Please call your Verizon representative to discuss device options that may be available to you. 

Your CDMA device will continue to work through November 30, 2022. After this, your service will be suspended without billing and you will lose network connection,  starting on the day before the first day of your December 2022 bill cycle. The bill period is reflected as the statement ending date at the top of the bill. As of that day, your line will then be suspended for 60 days (“Suspension Period”).  If you upgrade your device during the Suspension Period, you will be able to keep your current mobile telephone number and your account structure will be preserved.  If you do not upgrade during the Suspension Period, your line will be disconnected on the day before the first day of your February bill period, and you will lose the associated mobile telephone number.

To upgrade your impacted device and keep your current mobile phone number, sign in to your My Business account by visiting verizon.com/business/login, contact your sales representative, or call 800.922.0204.

As publicly stated for the last few years, Verizon will complete CDMA retirement by December 31, 2022. For the past few years, Verizon has been assisting businesses and consumers in technology migration from older 1X and 3G devices to newer devices that benefit from 4G and 5G. After network retirement , if you are a Verizon customer still using a device that is 1XRTT, 3G (CDMA) or 4G that does not support High Definition Voice (Non-VoLTE), your device will no longer make or receive calls, send or receive text messages, or use data services, including Internet browsing and IoT (Internet of Things) services.  Until network retirement, active and non-suspended CDMA devices will still be able to use these services. The network will be completely inaccessible after network retirement.  Verizon is no longer allowing new activation of 1X, 3G, or 4G Non-VoLTE devices on our network.

CDMA decommissioning may have some impacts to your bill  depending on how your account is set up.

Early Termination Fees. ETFs will not apply.  If your CDMA line has an ETF, it will be waived when the line is disconnected in February 2023.

Device Payment Plan. DPP finance charges will apply.  When your CDMA line is disconnected, you will be charged for the remaining device payment installment balance on your next bill. To stay connected, please upgrade your CDMA device by paying the remaining device payment balance.

Shared Data Plans. If the affected CDMA line(s) is part of a shared data plan, the total amount of data shared across the account will be reduced by the amount previously allocated to that CDMA line. If the remaining lines on the account collectively exceed the account’s total overall data allotment, overage charges will likely apply.

Tiered Pricing. For a  small  number of large, high-volume customers, a reduction in the number of devices due to CDMA decommissioning  may affect pricing. Please call your Verizon representative with any questions.

If your CDMA device line is designated in My Business as a Primary line, you will need to re-designate a non-CDMA line as Primary.

  • Push To Talk (PTT): If you upgrade your CDMA PTT phone to a 4G or 5G PTT phone, you will need to rebuild your PTT talk groups on the new phone.
  • Field Force Manager (FMM): If you upgrade your CDMA device, you will need to download the FFM application again on the new device. After you download the app on the new device, contact your Verizon representative to complete the setup.
  • Electronic Messaging Application Gateway (EMAG): If you have a CDMA Mobile Pilot device for your EMAG service, please contact your Verizon Representative to upgrade your device by November 1, 2022 to avoid service disruption.

Since Verizon is moving all device connectivity to our 4G and 5G networks, you will have a better experience with voice, data and messaging performance.  Verizon’s 4G and 5G networks are superior to Verizon’s previous generation networks. 

We want to keep you connected to the network more people rely on. Verizon has been assisting customers in technology migration from older (1X, 3G and older 4G devices that do not support High Definition Voice) to newer devices that benefit from 4G and 5G.  Please call your Verizon representative to discuss device options that may be available to you.

All devices in the following categories will be impacted:

  • 1XRTT CDMA
  • 3G CDMA
  • 4G Non-VoLTE (4G LTE devices that do not support High Definition Voice)
  • 1X and 3G Network Extenders (also called Ubicells, or eFemto cells)

To manage your impacted lines, please sign in and review the CDMA Network Retirement report in the My Business portal. Or you may follow these steps:

  • Sign in to My Business.

  • On the global navigation, select Reports and View All.

  • Under “Other Reports,” select the CDMA report.

Or you may contact your Business Sales representative, visit a Verizon store, or contact us at 800.922.0204.

For certified 4G IoT devices, you will find a list on our Open Development portal showcase website. https://opendevelopment.verizonwireless.com/device-showcase.

For impacted coverage extension devices, please see the list of Impacted Network Extenders.

1300+ CDMA 1X and 3G device models with CDMA M2M price plans will be impacted.

Multimode or dual mode devices supporting 4G and CDMA 2G (1XRTT) and/or 3G services will continue operating on the 4G network after the CDMA network retirement.  Please check in the link below to see if your device is impacted. 

Impacted loT Devices List

Verizon has ceased accepting new CDMA-only equipment for Open Development (OD) certification as of December 31, 2016. All CDMA-certified equipment has an expiration date of December 31, 2020 or 3 years from the date of certification, whichever occurs first. 

Effective July 1, 2018, Verizon no longer accepts uploads of any new CDMA-only MEID/ESNs.

There have been no new CDMA device certifications as of 2018. We stopped new CDMA device activations back in 2019.

There are many options available to you as you consider upgrading to a new device.

To manage your impacted lines, please sign in and review the CDMA Network Retirement report in the My Business portal. Or you may follow these steps:

  • Sign in to My Business.

  • On the global navigation, select Reports and View All.

  • Under “Other Reports,” select the CDMA report.

Or you may contact your Business Sales representative, visit a Verizon store, or contact us at 800.922.0204.

For certified 4G IoT devices, you will find a list on our Open Development portal showcase website. https://opendevelopment.verizonwireless.com/device-showcase.

For impacted coverage extension devices, please see the list of Impacted Network Extenders.

There are multiple ways to select a path to migrate from CDMA to 4G and it depends on device data needs:

  • If the device is working on 1X or 2G speeds today, then you can migrate to NB-IoT or CAT M1 4G devices. Please check the link for details: https://www.verizon.com/business/products/internet-of-things/connected-assets/lte-category-m1-narrow-band-technologies/

  • If your device requires 3G or slightly higher data rates or requires voice, then a CAT 1 device can provide cost and performance compatibility.

  • If you need even higher data rates to improve the user experience of your use cases, then CAT 3 can be an option. Please contact your Verizon representative for help in selecting the correct hardware to fit your needs.

Verizon offers a wide selection of IoT price plans such as M2M plans, Fixed Wireless Access (FWA) plans, Business Internet (BI) plans & Prepaid M2M plans for different 4G and 5G use cases.

Verizon is offering a BIC (bill incentive credit) through December 2022 for eligible IoT customers who upgrade their existing IoT (M2M) CDMA service. The equipment must be upgraded to a 4G or 5G device with any M2M/BI/FWA price plan. Customers should contact their sales representative for details.

For additional questions please visit verizon.com/business, contact your Sales Representative or call us 800.922.0204.

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