Act now, don’t delay
Australia’s 3G networks are closing very soon. It is important that members know if you will be impacted, and have time to upgrade your phones and other devices before they are closed. If you receive notice from your service provider to upgrade your device, don’t put off taking action, do it NOW!
The closure has already commenced.
TPG Telecom/Vodafone has already switched off its 3G mobile network services as of January 2024.
Telstra will close their network on 31 August 2024 followed by the Optus 3G network on 1 September 2024.
All 3G devices will be affected, not just phones!
If you have an older device that relies on a 3G network, you must upgrade your device now. This includes mobile phones, tablets, smart watches, personal emergency response solutions, and medical alarms.
Some 4G devices will be affected
Some early 4G handsets don’t support 4G voice calling, which means they use the 3G network, and after the closure these devices will not be able to make a call. There are also a number of devices that support normal 4G voice calls, but force emergency calls (000) to 3G.
If you have devices that don’t support 4G and 4G emergency calling, you should upgrade your device, otherwise you will not be able to make an emergency call to 000 after the 3G networks close.
Important: Emergency calls to Triple Zero (000)
After 31 August 2024:
- If your device doesn’t support VoLTE emergency calling, you will not be able to make an emergency call to 000 on the Telstra Mobile Network.
- You won’t be able to make voice calls or connect on the Telstra Network if your device doesn’t have Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology, even with 4G data.
The same applies to the Optus Network after their 3G closure on 1 September 2024.
Source – Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA)
John Porter
Supervising Editor
The Nomad
