Some cell phones will need SIM cards upgraded to accommodate 5G
by Pinedale Online!
November 16, 2021
Union Wireless is advising their customers they are in the process of upgrading their wireless network and some older phones may need to be upgraded to continue to work.
"As part of a national effort to modernize America’s wireless grid, Union is upgrading our network. The process involves the installation of a new network to support HD Voice technology and pave the way for the eventual implementation of 5G. At the same time, 3G networks across the country are actively being torn down."
"Networks all across the country are being modernized to accommodate new 5G capable technologies and old 3G networks are being taken down. These new networks, including Union’s, provide numerous advancements in telecommunication but not all devices are capable of supporting the new technology. Once 3G networks are taken down, people possessing certain older phones, known as legacy devices, will not be able to make or receive phone calls, not even for emergency services."
VoLTE, or Voice over Long-Term Evolution, is better understood as High-Definition Voice or HD Voice. HD Voice technology is intended to replace current 3G networks that transmit cellular calls to a separate channel, resulting in slower internet connection speeds when making a phone call.
When major wireless network changes are made, in some cases, new SIM cards are required on older phones. SIM cards, or "subscriber identity modules" are small cards (roughly the size of a fingernail) in cell phones. Issued by mobile service providers, SIM cards allow cellular devices access to operate on a host network.
Union says they are providing new SIM cards free of charge to their customers. The fastest way to find out if your phone has a compatible SIM card is to log into your MyUnion account/Account Overview. Union has provided visual representations indicating which SIMs need to be upgraded.
Below are some of the benefits of the new upgraded system:
More reliable and consistent connection
Faster internet speeds
Clearer calls and less call-related issues like dropped calls
The use of both audio and video calls
Simultaneous use of voice and data during calls
6-way conference calls
Contact your cell phone service provider for any questions about the network upgrade and whether phones on your service plan will need to be upgraded soon in order to keep working.
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