Bell to Shut Down Entire CDMA Network by Early 2017

Bell users on the company’s CDMA network can start counting down the days because an internal memo details a nationwide shut down by January 1, 2017, reports MobileSyrup.

Below is the timeline for the shut down:

• March 31, 2014: CDMA EVDO network partner to shut down in BC and Alberta (excluding Edmonton/Calgary)
• December 31, 2014: CDMA 1xRTT network partner to shut down in Thunder Bay
• July 1, 2015: CDMA EVDO network shutdown in Ontario, Quebec, New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and PEI; CDMA 1xRTT network shutting down in BC (excluding Fort Nelson), Alberta, parts of Quebec
• January 1, 2017: entire CDMA network to start shutting down

It’s no surprise Bell would consider shutting down its legacy CDMA network, considering the real money nowadays is with high end smartphones and data usage on faster LTE networks.

Telus already has plans to shut down its CDMA network by 2015, a move to cut costs as it moves customers over  to its newer 4G/LTE networks through hardware upgrade opportunities.