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Africa, Asia, Barbados, Bermuda, Canada, Central America and Caribbean, Europe, French Guiana, French Polynesia, Greenland, Guadeloupe, Libya, Martinique, Mexico, Middle East, New Caledonia, Oceania, Reunion, Russian Federation, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, South America, Southeast Asia, Ukraine, Venezuela
Do I Need a New SIM Card for 5G? Do you need to upgrade SIM card for 5G? Will you get 5G if you use your old 4G SIM card? Will your 4G SIM card work in a 5G phone? Can you use your existing SIM card in a 5G phone? The answer to all of the above questions is that you do not need a new SIM card for 5G; 4G SIM cards are forward compatible with 5G networks. An automatic software update might be pushed out by the carrier, but a 4G SIM card is good to go should your wireless carrier/network launch 5G services.
Why do 4G SIMs work on 5G networks? The simple answer is that most 5G networks are non-standalone (NSA). This means they use existing LTE technology to deploy 5G service. As such, your existing 4G SIM cards will work on non-standalone 5G networks. This is the general rule. But there are exceptions. The exception happens where a carrier or operator deploys a standalone (SA) 5G network. Such networks are built on newer 5G technology from scratch, and so will require that you replace your existing SIM card with a compatible 5G SIM.
Examples of where subscribers do not need a new SIM card for 5G, and where they do
For example, your mobile network provider might require you to replace or upgrade your SIM card with a 5G-compliant one, for various reasons. In the USA, AT&T subscribers are able to use their existing SIM cards. However, T-Mobile, having launched the first Standalone 5G service in America, is requiring its subscribers to get a new SIM card for 5G. On Verizon, your existing 4G LTE SIM card will work on their 5G Nationwide service (which is NSA), but not on their 5G UWB network (which is SA). For the Verizon 5G UWB, you will need a new SIM card.
In the UK, if you are on EE, Three, or Vodafone, your existing SIM card will work on their new 5G networks, as they are non-standalone (NSA) networks. You do not need to replace your SIM. However, subscribers of O2 are required to replace their existing SIMs with new 5G SIM cards to be able to connect to its standalone (SA) 5G network.
Most 5G networks are non-standalone and so do not require you to get a new SIM card. However, if what your carrier/network operator has deployed is a standalone network, you will need a new SIM card for 5G.
Here is a good summary of the subject. On non-standalone (NSA) networks, you do not need a new SIM card for 5G. Most 5G networks are NSA. On standalone (SA) networks, you will need a new SIM card for 5G. Lastly, when we say your existing SIM card will work on 5G NSA networks, we mean your 4G LTE SIM card. Older 3G SIM cards are not compatible with 5G networks.
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Founder of MobilityArena. Yomi’s journey in mobile started in 2001. Besides obsessing over mobile phones, he also started creating WAP sites (early mobile-friendly websites created with WML). He began writing about phones in 2004 and has been at it since then. He has owned over 200 devices, from Symbian, Palm, PocketPC/Windows Mobile, BlackBerry/BB10, webOS, Windows Phone, Firefox, Ubuntu Touch, to Android, iOS, and KaiOS operating systems.
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r/verizon
Posted by3 years ago
Archived
Is there really an actual difference with a 4G SIM vs a 5G SIM? I didn't think there would be any difference, but according to this page on VZ, a 4G SIM will connect to the 5G network but may not connect to "the future enhanced 5G network".
//www.verizonwireless.com/support/4g-sim-card-faqs/
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level 1
As of right now you can use an existing SIM card that you already have in a 5G phone and connect to the 5G network. (Source: I have a Note 10+ 5G and have used the same SIM card since I've had Verizon.) What they possibly could be referring to is when 5G is SA (Standalone). Not exactly sure though but I do know that my SIM card that's a few years old will let me connect to the 5G network.
level 2
How did you go about changing to your new phone? I have heard of issues with putting an existing 4G (really 3G USIM) in a 5G phone. My phone is supposed to arrive tomorrow and I'm trying to avoid any hiccups with it's activation.
level 1
I couldn't change my prepaid plan with the 4g sim in my Note 20. Store had to give me a 5g sim. They still had big problems activating. Took an hour.
level 2
Have an old Sim that I transferred to my Pixel 3 XL, Note 10 Plus and now my Note 20 Ultra 5G. I just put it into my new phone when it came in and service just worked. Only strange issue with the Note 20 is that the device does not show up in my Verizon account though it shows the line as active. Phone is an unlocked version purchased from Samsung. Have 4 lines and it displays all 4 but only identifies the phone model on 3. I wanted to order a new SIM for the Note 20, but the selection screen only shows the other 3 phones. Did not want to order a Sim against those in case Verizon ties the Sim to those numbers. Still have my Pixel 3 XL and will go to the store and have them activate a 5G SIM in that device. Will then move it to the Note 20. Am planning to ask why the phone is not showing up but have a feeling that the IMEI is not in some Verizon database.