Switching to 3g network on Ios26 and later.

I don’t know where you are in the world, but 3G is basically gone.

If it actually exists in your country, then you need to use an older phone that actually utilizes those bands. iPhones no longer do. Most of those 3G bands have been repurposed for 4G and 5G.

YOur phone may be saying it's using 4G, but if all that is available in your area is 3G, it will connect. Sounds like the 4G network where you are located ins poor. You're better off contacting your carrier and reporting the issue to them. They might have a bad tower in your area and not be aware of the problem if no one is complaining.

YOur old phone probably is saying it's connecting to 3G because it doesn't have 4G, or that radio is somehow incompatible with the network as is. 4G would be backward compatible all the way to "Edge" networks, which I believe is the 2G standard.

Of course, if you have wifi available, it's always better to get your device on a strong wifi network, and enable wifi calling if available where you are. I know we're talking about SMS messages here, but still, SMS can be carried over wifi as long as your phone registers itself via wifi.

iPhones—and almost all modern smartphones—no longer use 3G for connectivity in many parts of the world, most notably in the United States. This is primarily because major carriers have officially sunsetted their 3G networks to make room for more advanced technology.

The Great Spectrum "Refarming"
the wireless spectrum that once hosted 3G (HSPA/UMTS) has been repurposed or "refarmed."Carriers took the frequencies used for 3G (such as the 850 MHz and 1900 MHz bands) and reallocated them to expand the capacity and speed of 4G LTE and 5G networks.

Think of it like a highway: the carrier took the old, narrow "3G lane" and paved over it to create several new high-speed lanes for 4G and 5G. Because the "3G lane" no longer exists on the tower, an older 3G-only device has no "road" to drive on.

Why iPhones No Longer Use 3G
• Carrier Deactivation: In the U.S., AT&T, Verizon, and T-Mobile completed their 3G shutdowns by the end of 2022. If you try to use an iPhone 5 or older today, it will show "No Service" because there are no 3G signals for it to catch.


• Hardware Shift: While an iPhone 15 technically has a modem that could understand 3G signals, it will never find one to connect to in the U.S. because the towers have stopped broadcasting them.
• VoLTE Requirements: Modern networks now require VoLTE (Voice over LTE) for phone calls. Older iPhones that relied on 3G for voice (anything older than an iPhone 6) can no longer make calls, even if they can still see a 4G data signal.
Status of Legacy iPhones
iPhone Model
3G Status
Current Functionality
iPhone (Original) to iPhone 5S
Inoperable
Cannot connect to cellular networks; Wi-Fi only.
iPhone 6 to iPhone 11
4G LTE Only
Uses 4G for data and voice (VoLTE).
iPhone 12 to iPhone 17
4G / 5G
Uses 5G as primary and 4G as backup.

If you are currently using a very old iPhone and notice a loss of service, it is because those 3G towers have been decommissioned. You would need a device from the iPhone 6 or newer to maintain a basic connection on today’s networks. In the Middle East and much of the rest of the world, the situation is a bit of a "mixed bag" compared to the total shutdown in the United States. While many countries are following the same path of repurposing 3G bands for 4G and 5G, the timelines vary significantly based on local infrastructure.
The Middle East: A Rapid Shift
Many Middle Eastern nations, particularly in the Gulf (GCC), are moving even faster than Europe to retire 3G to support their massive 5G rollouts.
• United Arab Emirates (UAE): The UAE was an early leader, completing its nationwide 3G shutdown by the end of 2022. The spectrum was immediately "refarmed" to boost 5G capacity.
• Saudi Arabia: STC began its phase-out in 2022, and most major carriers there (including Zain and Mobily) have since followed suit or are in the final stages as of 2026.
• Qatar & Kuwait: Both countries have set firm deadlines to be entirely 3G-free by the end of 2025. In fact, Qatar's regulator recently banned the import of 2G/3G-only phones to prepare.



• Israel: Major carriers (like Pelephone) began shutting down 3G in 2023, with a goal for complete decommissioning by the end of 2025.
• The Exception (Egypt, Jordan, etc.): In countries like Egypt, Morocco, and parts of Jordan, 3G (and even 2G) is expected to stay active longer—likely through 2028 or 2030—because a significant portion of the population still relies on older, affordable handsets.

Global Status (Europe & Asia)
Region
3G Shutdown Status (2026)
Europe
Majority Complete. Germany, Italy, and the UK have mostly finished. France is in the middle of its phase-out, with a total 3G sunset expected by 2028.
Asia
Varies. Japan (2024/2026) and Singapore (2024) are done. China is currently dismantling its 3G networks, though 2G is actually staying slightly longer for IoT devices.
Africa
Active. 3G remains a primary network for many African nations. Most shutdowns haven't even been scheduled yet, as 4G penetration is still growing.

Why the "3T" (3G) Bands are Dying
it’s all about the bands.
1 Efficiency: 3G is a "spectrum hog." It uses a lot of frequency to carry very little data.



2 Power: Maintaining 3G equipment accounts for up to 30% of a tower's energy use, even when almost no one is using it.


3 Refarming: By moving that spectrum to 4G/5G, carriers get more "bandwidth for their buck," allowing for the gigabit speeds we see today.


Note: Even in countries where 3G is gone, 2G sometimes stays alive longer! This is because "Internet of Things" (IoT) devices like smart meters, elevators, and old credit card machines often use tiny amounts of 2G data and are harder to replace than a smartphone.