With major cellular providers set to phase out 3G coverage as early as February, the town is seeking to make residents and businesses with older technology aware of the potential loss of cell and data functions, specifically 911 service availability.

According to information from the state’s Executive Office of Public Safety and Security (EOPSS), mobile carriers are returning 3G technology to add bandwidth for faster and more reliable network services, such as 5G. If a mobile phone is more than several years old (e.g., older than an iPhone 6 or Samsung Galaxy S4), the phone might require an upgrade.

For more information, visit the EOPSS page at mass.gov.