3G Network Shutdown Imminent, As Authorities Campaign to Keep Users Connected

A young couple are absorbed in their mobile phones in Perth, Western Australia, on March 16, 2024. Susan Mortimer/The Epoch Times

Australia’s 3G network will begin its shut down on Oct. 28 with nearly 60,000 devices expected to be impacted.

Telstra and Optus had previously delayed the shut down over public safety concerns with thousands of devices unable to connect to emergency services (triple zero).

The soon-to-be-closed network will affect mobile phones, smart watches, iPads, medical devices, and farming technology. Users in remote areas may be the most impacted.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland noted that about 59,000 handsets remained reliant on 3G for emergency calls. Often purchased overseas or second-hand, these devices rely on 4G for regular calls and texts, but default to 3G for triple-zero calls due to a lack of Voice over LTE technology.

In early 2024, there were 740,000 such devices in use, prompting the government to form an industry working group.

Campaign for Users to Switch

Telstra and Optus are running a joint campaign urging users to “check your tech,” sending millions of alerts via SMS, email, recorded messages, and letters. All telcos offer a service for customers to check their device status by texting “3” to 3498.

The 3G closure is contributing to a boost in sales for Australia’s smartphone market, which surged by 8 percent in the first half of 2024 as users upgraded their devices, according to Telstra.

The 3G network, a critical service for 20 years, especially in regional areas, is being shut down to allow for the expansion of 4G and 5G services.

The joint campaign by the telcos has been running for the past two months to prepare users for the shutdown.

“Just in 2024 alone, we’ve sent over 4 million communications via email, SMS, or direct mail,” said a spokesperson from Telstra.

AAP has contributed to this article.