Whoa, I just got the following message from Amazon. I have a 5th gen Kindle Paperwhite so this applies to me. I'm very sad and also very annoyed. I love my Paperwhite, it still works pretty flawlessly, and I had no intention of replacing it...
"Starting this December, Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in the U.S. will start phasing out their 2G and 3G networks (to learn more about MNO 2G and 3G network deprecation, click here). This means that some prior generation Kindle devices, including Kindle (1st and 2nd Generation) and Kindle DX (2nd Generation), will no longer be able to connect to the internet. Customers who own these devices will still be able to enjoy previously downloaded content on their Kindle, but they will no longer be able to access or download new content wirelessly.
Other devices, including Kindle Keyboard (3rd Generation), Kindle Touch (4th Generation), Kindle Paperwhite (5th Generation, 6th Generation, and 7th Generation), Kindle Voyage (7th Generation), and Kindle Oasis (8th Generation), will only be able to connect to the internet using Wi-Fi. If you are unsure which device you have, see Identify Your Kindle E-reader for more information.
To thank you for being one of our earliest customers, we’d like to offer you a promotion code, valid through August 15, 2021, at 11:59 pm (PDT) for $50 off a new Kindle Paperwhite or Kindle Oasis, plus $15 in eBook credits. Terms and Conditions apply.
NEWKINDLE50
For questions or concerns, please contact Customer Service.
Sincerely,
The Kindle Team"