[1kGarand]

This article is strange enough that I suspect astroturfing.

The reason 5G is being deployed in 24GHz is because we don’t have wide enough blocks elsewhere. The 800MHz and 1.9 GHz spectrums have existing services cellular services, and putting 5G there would have to block off spectrum that would otherwise be used by older technologies. This would increase congestion for existing users while very few people would be on 5G.

Unlike other countries, US govt does not force phase out of services—we still have 2G service in many parts of the rural us, and cell companies aren’t going to upgrade them voluntarily.

Eventually most of the handsets would be compatible with 5G, then 800MHz-2GHz bands will be converted over to 5G. This happened with LTE and 3G before that.

Maybe this article is being pushed by telcos, who wants the current TV frequency reallocated to them. Of course the broadcasters want to hang on to those to provide 4K TV over the air service.

[drmpeg]

TV frequencies have already been reallocated. Channels 52 through 69 (700 MHz band) were reallocated in 2008 and channels 38 through 51 (600 MHz band) were reallocated in 2017.

The 600 MHz band is currently being cleared and will be finished on July 3, 2020.

https://www.fcc.gov/about-fcc/fcc-initiatives/incentive-auct...

[tomohawk]

According to this:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2G

2G is already decommissioned for AT&T, and Verizon is this year. Next year is T-Mobile.

My experience is that 2G is nowhere to be found anywhere, and 3G also seems to be being phased out. Places I would get 3G signals last year are now all 4G.

[OkGoDoIt]

I still occasionally get 2G signal. Mostly EDGE when I am in suburban GA, and occasionally GPRS. I’m on T-Mobile.

It would be awesome if I instead got 3G or 4G signal, but I’m worried if 2G is shut off I’ll be left with no signal at all.

[solarkraft]

I strongly suspect that they won't let new coverage holes happen. They already have the stations anyway.