- Some users have reported phone service issues with Mint Mobile, US Mobile, and other carriers based on T-Mobile’s network.
- The issue stems from a recent T-Mobile network change. Phones that don’t support LTE Band 71 may no longer work correctly in many cases.
- The problem primarily impacts phones designed for markets outside the US or US-specific models that are around four years old or older.
Earlier this week, we learned T-Mobile is offering free phone replacements for select customers affected by upcoming network changes. While T-Mobile has been notifying its direct customers about the need to switch phones due to this band change, it seems not everyone has received the message. After all, it’s not just T-Mobile customers that use the uncarrier’s network. Reddit threads are popping up across subreddits for Mint Mobile, US Mobile, Tello, and other T-Mobile-based providers asking why some users suddenly have access only to EDGE speeds or SOS mode. If this sounds like your current situation, odds are your phone doesn’t support Band 71 on 4G or N71 on 5G.
So what’s going on exactly? Simply put, T-Mobile has been aggressively rolling out Band 71 for years and now it’s ready to phase out some of its legacy LTE bands. Recently, it reconfigured a large number of its cell towers to shut down Bands B2, B4, B12, B41, and B66. While these older bands may still work in some areas, it’s clear their days are numbered.