The 3G network shutdown is nearing its end. Vodafone was the first major telco to make the move on 15 December 2023.
Optus and Telstra are only weeks away from following suit.
You will need to upgrade impacted tech such as mobile phones, medical devices and EFTPOS machines urgently if you haven't taken action yet.
"Whether it's your day-to-day mobile or one you keep in the drawer for an emergency, we encourage you to check all of your devices to ensure they will be supported once Australia's 3G networks are switched off," Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) CEO Louise Hyland said in a media release.
There are also certain 4G devices that won't be able to make emergency calls to Triple 0 after all 3G networks close.
Either call your provider or use the Check My Device feature at www.3Gclosure.com.au to see if your phone's impacted. The site is available to all Australians, on any mobile network and is available in 11 different languages including Arabic, Greek, Hindi and Mandarin.
Vodafone shut down its 3G network on 15 December 2023.
Telstra will follow suit on 31 August 2024 and Optus from September 2024.
Mobile virtual network operators (MVNOs) that use either the Vodafone, Telstra or Optus network will also be impacted by the shutdown. This includes the likes of Boost Mobile, amaysim, Belong, Catch Connect and felix.
In a senate inquiry on 24 July 2024, Optus executive Harvey Wright said as many as 150,000 users could be impacted following the shutdown.
"The migration experience that we've had to date is that you have to do two things: create awareness and remove barriers for customers to act, but then also prepare for the fact that some will not. It's just human nature." Wright said, according to Michael West Media.
| Response | WA | VIC | SA | QLD | NSW |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No | 45.95% | 48.97% | 51.85% | 46.82% | 47.35% |
| Yes | 39.64% | 41.1% | 34.57% | 44.09% | 42.06% |
| I don't know | 14.41% | 9.59% | 13.58% | 8.64% | 10.58% |
| I don't have a mobile phone/mobile phone plan | 0.34% | 0.45% |
Not after September 2024 as major network providers make way for new tech.
3G is the third generation of wireless mobile telecommunications technology. Currently, we've progressed to 5G, meaning the technology for mobile communications is newer, faster and much more efficient.
So similar to how Australia experienced the shutdown of 2G in 2018, we're now bracing for a similar scenario with 3G.
Telstra and Optus have already phased out parts of their 3G network and redeployed the spectrum to help their 4G and 5G services instead.
All of Telstra's 3G services will cease by 31 August 2024.
Its 3G network has been in operation since 2006 and the shutdown will come just shy of 2 decades of use.
Telstra says it's continuing to communicate to around 127,000 customers using the Telstra network across consumers and small businesses to let them know why they need to upgrade their devices. The reasons include:
"We recognise there are still people using the 3G network and may need some extra help to change devices," said a Telstra spokesperson.
"These include people who are in difficult situations, living in remote areas or not near a store, are aged over 80 or living with a life-threatening medical condition. We have now distributed 12,000 free phones to disadvantaged customers who met our criteria."
Earlier this year, Telstra introduced the 3G SMS Checker tool which has seen tens of thousands of enquiries from customers to see if their device will be impacted.
If you text '3' to 3498, Telstra will text you back to let you know if your device needs to be upgraded.
Optus will be the last of the major telcos to shut down its 3G network from September 2024.
It's also giving away 20,000 no-cost handsets to eligible impacted customers including those facing financial hardship and the elderly.
If eligible, Optus will send SMS messages to invite you to contact them to request a new handset - at no cost.
This differs from the messages all customers impacted by the 3G switch-off are already receiving.
"There are no-cost handsets, special discounts, budget offers and more for customers impacted by the 3G switch-off as we fast approach the Optus deadline. This is all about keeping customers connected, so please engage with us to upgrade your handset," Optus Head of New Products, Harvey Wright said.
We have already sent millions of messages directly to impacted customers, established support measures to understand if your handset needs to be upgraded, offered special deals and we also have trained professional staff only a phone call away and in our retail outlets ready to assist.
Vodafone's 3G network is now a thing of the past.
Its 3G network carried less than 1% of the network's total mobile data traffic.
Before the shutdown, a Vodafone spokesperson had told Finder they had been "committed to keeping their consumer and enterprise customers informed in the lead up to the 3G switch-off" so they'd be prepared well in advance.
We've curated a list of 3G-only phones in a table that the shutdown will impact. You can use the search function to type in the model you're looking for.
Alternatively, you can visit www.3gclosure.com for a more exhaustive list.
| Brand | Phone |
|---|---|
| Alcatel | 2038 |
| Alcatel | OneTouch 2045 |
| Alcatel | Optus X Lite 2038X |
| Alcatel | Optus X Play |
| Alcatel | Optus X Smart |
| Alcatel | Pixi 3 (3.5) |
| Alcatel | U3 |
| Apple | iPhone 4 |
| Apple | iPhone 4S |
| Apple | iPhone 5 |
| Apple | iPhone 5C |
| Apple | iPhone 5S |
| Apple | iPhone 3GS |
| Aspera | A42 |
| Doro | 6521 |
| Doro | Optus PhoneEasy 623 |
| Pixel | |
| Pixel 2 | |
| Pixel 2 XL | |
| Pixel 3 | |
| Pixel 3 XL | |
| Pixel 3a | |
| Pixel 3a XL | |
| Hipipooo | Super Small Mini Smartphone |
| Huawei | E5251s-2 |
| Huawei | E5331 |
| Huawei | Y6 Prime |
| Konka | FP8 |
| Konka | U6 |
| Nokia | C2-01 |
| Nokia | 301 |
| Oppo | A57 |
| Oppo | F1s |
| Oppo | F5 Youth |
| PrzSay | Cheap Mobile Phone |
| Samsung | Chrono R260 |
| Samsung | Galaxy Grand Prime |
| Samsung | Galaxy J1 Mini |
| Samsung | Galaxy Note 1 |
| Samsung | Galaxy Note 2 |
| Samsung | Galaxy S |
| Samsung | Galaxy S10 Plus |
| Samsung | Galaxy S2 |
| Samsung | Galaxy S3 |
| Samsung | Galaxy S4 |
| Samsung | Galaxy S5 |
| Samsung | Galaxy S8 Plus |
| Samsung | Galaxy S9 |
| Samsung | Galaxy S9 Plus |
| Samsung | Galaxy Trend Plus |
| Samsung | Stride R330 |
| Sony Ericsson | Cedar (J108a) |
| SOYES | Xs11 |
| ZTE | Boost Indy B816 |
| ZTE | Boost Sola B111 |
| ZTE | Optus Blade A0605 |
| ZTE | Optus X Spirit 2 |
| ZTE | Telstra Blade Q Lux |
| ZTE | Telstra Chat 4g V830w |
| ZTE | Telstra Cruise T126 |
| ZTE | Telstra Evoke Plus 2 OctaCore Phone |
| ZTE | Telstra Lite 2 |
| ZTE | Telstra Lite F327S |
| ZTE | Telstra Smart Lite L111 |
| ZTE | Telstra Blade A3 |
If your phone isn't listed in the above table, it should be good to go (e.g. the iPhone 14 isn't listed as it works on the 4G and 5G network).
But just keep in mind that this isn't an exhaustive list so you may need to chat to your mobile provider, search online or contact the manufacturer for more information.
If you don't want to spend $1,000+ upfront on one of the latest smartphones, we've collated 4G phones you can grab as an upgrade.
You can also check out our guide to the best budget phones in Australia to explore tech that may better suit your needs.
Another option, if you have a higher budget, is to consider getting a more recent iPhone or Samsung phone on a plan.
Newer flagship phones are equipped to operate on both the 4G and 5G networks in Australia, so you'll be good for a long while.
Thankfully, no. Mobile plans already operate on the 4G network by default, switching to the 3G network only in areas with spotty coverage or if your phone isn't equipped to connect to the 4G network.
Once you have a 4G-enabled phone, your current mobile plan will naturally connect to the 4G network.
There's no set date for when the 4G network will be shut down but we can assume it'll be around for a few more years based on the introduction and closure of past and present networks.
We can expect 4G to be around for at least another decade if we average out how many years it took to shut down 2G and very soon, 3G.
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