U.S. Analog Cellphones to Lose Signal

Wireless networks throughout the United States soon will begin shutting down the analog networks that launched the cellphone business 25 years ago.

The Federal Communications Commission has authorized carriers to phase out analog networks, beginning Feb. 18, to free more airwaves for digital services, The Washington Post reported Saturday.

Only about 1 million cellphone customers still use analog networks while most of the nation’s quarter-billion cellphone users rely on digital networks. Those 1 million mainly include people who haven’t upgraded their cellphones in recent years or live in areas too remote to receive digital signals, the Post reported.

The analog shut-down is the first phase of a larger transition to digital technology to culminate Feb. 17 next year with the end of analog television signals.