Over 100,000 Phone Users at Risk as 3G Networks Shut Down

Australians who have a device that can only use 3G won’t be able to connect to their registered network or make emergency calls. 

A woman walks out of a Vodafone store in Perth, Western Australia, on March 18, 2024. Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times

Thousands of Australians are about to experience a massive change as all telcos prepare to switch off 3G across the country starting next month.

Telstra will shut down its ageing 3G network on Aug. 31, followed by Optus on Sept. 1. TPG/Vodafone shut down its 3G operation in January this year.

This means that Australians who have a device that can only use 3G will not be able to connect to their registered network or make emergency Triple Zero (000) calls.

Mobile customers of Telstra, Optus, and TPG/Vodafone networks can text “3” to “3498” and receive an instant reply about whether their mobile could be impacted by the 3G switchover.

Telstra has warned that if the mobile device does not have Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology, even if it uses 4G data, it will not be able to make voice calls on Telstra’s network after Aug. 31.

The telco said it would contact customers affected by the change while advising them to upgrade to a 4G/5G mobile device that is VoLTE compatible before the deadline.

“If you already have a 4G mobile device, we strongly recommend that you check that your device is VoLTE capable and compatible,” Telstra said.

Optus to Send Out 20,000 Free Mobile Phones

Meanwhile, Optus will notify affected Optus customers with a recorded message on their first voice call each day, and send an SMS reminder for further action.

Optus will also hand out 20,000 mobile phones to vulnerable customers, including those enduring financial hardship, the elderly, and others experiencing challenges obtaining a new phone.

The telco will send SMS messages to eligible customers to invite them to request a new phone at no cost.

“It is vital customers replace their handset impacted by the 3G switch off so they can remain connected, especially to ensure they can make an emergency call to Triple Zero,” the company said in a media release on July 18.

Currently, there are 102,000 mobile phones across the nation that could lose access to Triple Zero after the 3G switchover, according to Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.

Top Suburbs with High Incompatible Devices

Optus research released last week identified suburbs and regions with the highest number of incompatible devices, where many residents are native Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Vietnamese, and Korean speakers.

Some areas may also have large cohorts of international university students.

The city suburbs with the highest number of affected devices on the Optus network were Melbourne’s CBD and Sydney’s Macquarie Park, Marsfield, and Millers Point.

The top regional areas were Port Hedland, Western Australia, Cairns, and Sarina in Queensland, and Griffith and Orange in NSW.

In a statement, Ms. Rowland said she was pleased the industry is working collaboratively to identify and inform impacted Australians.

“The government is keen to see this work ramp up and continue,” she said.

“Despite the latest fall in the number of affected handsets, as the planned switchover date draws closer it is clear that more needs to be done.

“I encourage everyone to check their own device, speak to friends, family, and loved ones about the 3G switchover, and reach out directly to their service providers for further information.”