@RG31
Yes. While you need a 5G phone to access the 5G network generally at pm when plans are labeled "3G", "4G" and "5G" they are referring to the data speed not the network you connect to....your phone if capable (nearly all are 2G (obsolete in Canada), 3G and 4G LTE capable) will connect to the strongest network's signal when set on automatic. The vast majority of the time that will be the 4G LTE network. Phones/devices that are not capable or are not provisioned by pm for VoLTE will automatically switch to the 3G network for voice calls.
Phones/devices on a "3G" plan will use the 4G LTE network for text and data (throttled to 3mbps) or can use the 3G network for data (up to 20mbps+ but averages 10 to 12mbps depending on network traffic). Voice calls (non-VoLTE provisioned devices) use only the 3G network* while text and data can use both the 3G and 4G LTE networks.
"4G" plans can get data speeds up to 100mbps but users have exceeded that limit at times. As above access to both the 3G and 4G LTE networks is the same as well as plan services. Only the 4G LTE data speed differs.
"5G" plans can get "5G" data speeds up to 250mbps. 5G capable phones can also access the 5G network where available. The majority of "5G" plans** have "unlimited data" meaning once the plan's data allotment is exhausted "unlimited data" is throttled to 512kbps until renewal or early renewal. Data add ons will not work with "5G" "unlimited data" plans. (In nearly all cases with the exception of grandfathered legacy plans purchasing the new data add ons with a 30 day expiry is a rip off as an early renewal or plan change is a more economical option.)
* In the US non-VoLTE phones/devices can use T-Mobile's 2G network for voice calls where available since the 3G network has been decommissioned in the US since 2022.
**Canada/US "5G" Roaming plans do not have "unlimited data".
