Telstra and Optus delay 3G network shutdown until October

Due to concerns over emergency calls, Telstra and Optus have agreed to delay the shutdown of their 3G network for several months and run a public safety awareness campaign to help affected Australians replace their mobile devices.

Rural politicians, consumer advocates and lobbying groups have been among those pushing for telecoms operators to delay the closure of their 3G networks. Regional and remote areas are of particular concern, where Australia’s newer 4G and 5G mobile networks are struggling to match 3G coverage.

The delay in the 3G network shutdown follows the recent release of an interim report by the Senate Rural, Regional and Transport Committee recommending a postponement of the network shutdown.

Although Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said she would use her regulatory powers to force a delay, the final decision was made by the telecoms companies.

Why was the 3G shutdown in Australia delayed?

While Australian telcos haven’t sold 3G-only phones for several years, in early 2024 they suggested that the 3G shutdown could affect up to 740,000 phones. The list of affected phones includes the Apple iPhone 3G, 3GS, 4 and 4S.

In early August, that figure was revised down to 77,000 as more Australians took the warnings to heart and began upgrading their devices.

Of particular concern are customers with early 4G phones that lack an important feature known as VoLTE. While they may be able to access 4G data when 3G is turned off, they will not be able to make voice calls, including to emergency services.

Telstra Tower 3G Shutdown in Australia — Photo by Josh Withers on Unsplash

To complicate matters further, VoLTE support on some phones can vary between network operators. There’s a subset of 4G phones that use 4G for both voice and data calls, but are permanently connected to 3G for triple zero calls – meaning owners may not be aware of it until they’re in an emergency.

In addition to mobile phones, the 3G network shutdown in Australia could also impact other devices such as EFTPOS payment terminals, ATMs, farm equipment, medical equipment and other Internet of Things devices.

Telstra first announced plans to switch off its 3G network in 2019, setting a deadline of June 30 this year, which was extended to August 31 and now October 28.

Optus also extended its deadline from September 1 to October 28. Meanwhile, Vodafone has switched off its 3G services in December 2023.

All three Australian telcos are retiring their 3G networks so they can reallocate that mobile spectrum. For example, Telstra’s 850MHz band, currently used for 3G and previously 2G CDMA, will be repurposed to expand its 5G network.

Australians unsure whether their mobile phone will be affected by the 3G shutdown can text “3” to “3498” (3GXT) and they will receive a response advising whether they need to take any action.