Verizon tentatively plans to retire 2G and 3G CDMA networks by 2021

Verizon Wireless plans to shut down its 2G and 3G CDMA networks by 2021, the company’s VP of global strategy Aparna Khurjekar told FierceWireless. A Verizon spokesperson clarified, saying that the date was a “guideline” for enterprise customers, adding “we haven’t made a sunset decision like our competitors.” Carriers routinely repurpose old spectrum, and once the customer transition to LTE is complete, Verizon plans to move voice calls to LTE networks rather than the CDMA networks that are currently used. Transitioning consumers to the LTE networks by 2021 will not prove difficult because of the two-year contract cycle, and Khurjekar promised that enterprise customers would be given “several years” past the deadline if necessary.