TL;DR
Get garage and car supplies delivered free — and shop member deals
- Fast, free delivery on millions of items
- Access to Prime Big Deal Days deals on October 6–7
- Prime Video, Amazon Music and more included
Mobile operators are expected to begin retiring LTE networks as early as 2030, raising concerns that cars with 4G-only modems could lose access to connected features. Omdia analyst John Canali warned that slow 5G adoption could leave some vehicles without a compatible network, but the scale and effects of any shutdown remain uncertain.
Mobile operators are expected to begin decommissioning 4G LTE networks as early as 2030, a shift that could leave cars with 4G-only modems unable to connect to services that depend on cellular coverage. Omdia IoT analyst John Canali has warned that slow 5G adoption in vehicles could create a gap between network retirements and automakers’ ability to equip cars with compatible connectivity.
The Drive’s report points to a recent study on connected cars and estimates that about 500 million connected vehicles are on roads worldwide, with that number expected to more than double by 2035. The material does not identify the study or provide its methodology, so those figures should be treated as estimates rather than a precise count. The report says the coming LTE change could affect more vehicles and services than the 2022 3G shutdown, which disabled connected features in some cars.
Connected systems can support diagnostics, vehicle tracking, remote functions and infotainment. A network retirement would not necessarily stop a car’s core mechanical operation, but a feature that needs a cellular connection may become unavailable if its modem cannot reach a supported network. The report stresses a hardware limit: a 4G modem cannot connect to a 5G-only network, and a firmware update cannot turn a 4G radio into a 5G one.
Canali said in a press release that automakers are adopting technologies such as eSIMs and hybrid terrestrial and non-terrestrial connectivity, while 5G adoption has been slow. He warned that retiring LTE could leave vehicles dependent on connectivity without access to a viable network. The report offers a possible remedy—a shared network environment for older vehicles—but presents it as a suggestion, not a plan announced by carriers or automakers.
The Risk to Connected-Car Services
The concern is that a car could remain drivable while losing digital functions owners have come to expect. Depending on how a particular vehicle is designed, loss of connectivity could affect remote access, status checks, navigation-related services or emergency and support features. The source does not establish which functions would stop working in specific models, and not every connected feature necessarily relies on LTE at all times.
The issue could also reach beyond new-car technology. If support for a vehicle’s modem or service ends, owners may face fewer useful features, added replacement costs or reduced appeal in the used-car market. Those outcomes are possible consequences, not confirmed results; they would depend on carrier schedules, automaker support, available upgrades and whether services can operate through other connections.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Lessons From the 3G Retirement
The report compares the looming LTE question with the 3G network shutdown in 2022, which it says removed connected features from millions of cars. It also notes that earlier OnStar vehicles lost service during the 2008 analog shutdown. These examples show that a vehicle can outlast the network technology used by its built-in communications hardware.
Planning matters because cars are developed years before they reach showrooms. The Drive argues that automakers working on 2030 model-year vehicles can account for network changes now, including by choosing hardware and service arrangements that can move across networks. The source does not say which manufacturers have adopted such plans or whether any shared legacy-LTE system is under discussion.
vehicle eSIM module for connected cars
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Shutdown Timing and Model Impact
The source gives 2030 as the earliest expected start for LTE decommissioning, not a firm deadline for all carriers or regions. It does not identify which networks will close first, how quickly LTE coverage may be reduced, or whether carriers will maintain service for particular automotive devices. The scale of the connected-car estimate is also difficult to evaluate because the underlying study details are not included.
It is not yet clear which vehicle models or functions would be affected, whether automakers could offer modem replacements or alternative connectivity, or how long current service contracts and backend systems would remain supported. The report’s suggestion of a dedicated legacy network is speculation; no consortium or operating plan is reported.
hybrid terrestrial satellite connectivity device
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Automakers Face Long-Lead Decisions
The next milestones will be clearer carrier retirement schedules and more detail from automakers about the modems and network support planned for upcoming vehicles. Owners should check manufacturer guidance for their specific model rather than assume every connected feature will stop when LTE service changes. The report does not cite a current universal recall or retrofit program.
Automakers, carriers and service providers could also clarify whether vehicles can use roaming arrangements, replacement hardware or other network options. Until those details are available, the risk is prospective rather than an immediate shutdown: LTE remains in service, while the timing and vehicle-level consequences of future retirements remain unsettled.
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
Key Questions
Will an LTE shutdown make a car stop driving?
The report does not say that cars will stop operating mechanically. The concern is that cellular-dependent services could become unavailable if a vehicle cannot connect to a supported network.
When are LTE networks expected to be retired?
The source says operators are expected to begin decommissioning LTE as early as 2030. It does not provide firm dates by carrier, country or region.
Can a software update make a 4G modem use 5G?
No. The report explains that 4G radio hardware cannot connect to a 5G-only network; firmware cannot change the modem’s radio capability. A hardware replacement or another connectivity option would be needed if no compatible LTE service remained.
Which connected-car features could be affected?
Potentially affected services include remote functions, diagnostics, tracking and infotainment, but the source does not identify specific models or confirm that every listed feature depends on LTE. Owners should consult their automaker for vehicle-specific information.
Source: rss
Fall Picks
fall essentials
As an affiliate, we earn on qualifying purchases.
