As reported by Droid Life, Verizon confirmed that it will stop activating 3G CDMA devices as it prepares to discontinue service on that network by the end of 2019.  

“For several years we’ve been publicly saying that our 3G CDMA network will remain available through the end of 2019. Virtually all traffic on our network is on our 4G LTE network,” Verizon said in a statement to Droid Life. “To facilitate a smooth transition to 4G LTE capable products and services, we are no longer allowing devices that are not 4G LTE capable to be activated on our network.”  

Verizon’s decision to discontinue CDMA activations aligns with its previous statements, as well as its work in moving customers onto its 4G LTE network. Indeed, in 2012, a Verizon executive initially hinted that Verizon would shutter its 2G and 3G CDMA networks by 2021, but then in 2016 Verizon confirmed to FierceWireless that it would shut down its CDMA network by Dec. 31, 2019.