3G Network Service Closure
We have switched off our 3G network
3G Network Service Closure
3G closure has started - act now
The 3G network is closed
From 28 October 2024, the 3G network was switched off. Impacted devices include 3G and some 4G/5G phones, smartwatches, tablets, in-home personal emergency alarms, EFTPOS terminals, as well as fire or security alarms.
If you have received an SMS, email, call, letter, or recorded voice announcement- you must take action.
If you do not take action, your service may be at risk of disconnection.
Important: Triple Zero Impacted Devices
From 28 October 2024, Telstra is legally required to prevent mobile phones that cannot call emergency services (including triple zero) from accessing our network. This includes older 3G handsets, as well as some 4G/5G handsets. If your device is blocked, you will not be able to use that handset for voice or data.
What should I do now?
Select your device type and follow the steps to stay connected.
VoLTE compatible phones and wearables sold by Telstra after January 2019 do not need any action. For other devices, follow these steps:
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Check for 4G or 5G
The first step to check if your device is compatible is to look for ‘4G’ or ‘5G’ on the screen.
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Check for VoLTE
Voice calls on 4G need a VoLTE-capable device on 700 MHz (Band 28).
For Telstra customers: To find out if your mobile phone is impacted SMS 3 to 3498.
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Check your settings
Check your device network is set to ‘automatic’ and VoLTE is enabled. Follow these steps:
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Need a new phone?
If your device only shows ‘3G’, or it's not VoLTE-capable, you need to replace it to stay connected.
Many smart watches and wearables can operate in “standalone” mode. This means you can make and receive calls or use data without having to carry a smartphone.
While most smart watches and wearables are 4G-compatible, some do not support our main 4G frequency band, 700 MHz (also known as B28). Once we turn off 3G, you may still be able to use data or make voice calls using the cellular feature on your smart watch, but the service may work intermittently.
Some kids smart watches are simply not compatible at all, and would need to be replaced. Explore devices
When your smart watch or wearable is connected to your mobile handset via Bluetooth, your experience will be based on your handset’s network capability.
Impacted devices include:
- Apple Watch Series 3
- Apple Watch Series 4
- Apple Watch Series 5
- Galaxy Watch
- Samsung Galaxy Watch Active2.
Newer Apple and Samsung watches with cellular capability do support 4G on 700MHz (Band 28).
Check your device manual or search online to determine which 4G frequencies your device supports.
NextG Wireless Link (NGWL) uses our mobile network to provide home phone services to some customers in remote and rural Australia.
Where NGWL utilises the 3G network, we’ll upgrade those services to be 4G compatible before the 3G closure.
Most customers will be migrated to a 4G solution, which includes our Smart Modem and a compatible antenna.
NGWL upgrades started in 2023 and we’ll be in touch shortly with more information, before scheduling an appointment to upgrade your service.
Read more about the new equipment you'll need to continue your home or business phone service.
3G Internet of Things (IoT) devices will no longer connect to our mobile network from 28 October 2024.
We urge you to replace those devices now, well in advance of the closure date.
Telstra has a broad range of 4G IoT devices already certified and available. Speak to your Telstra representative to discuss the device alternatives that best fit your requirements.
Telstra has certified a wide range of compatible devices, with new devices being added monthly. These include:
- EFTPOS terminals
- Industrial routers
- Scanners
- Security monitoring
- Telematics
- Asset Tracking
- Environment monitoring.
Learn more about Telstra IoT/M2M Certified Embedded Modules and Integrated Devices (PDF, 394KB)
Please encourage your device manufacturer or IoT service provider to have their portfolio Telstra Network-certified by contacting us at telstrawirelessm2mhardware@team.telstra.com, or ask your Telstra representative for more information.
We’re unable to comment on the timings for individual device manufacturers. However, we strongly recommend you discuss the benefits of the Telstra IoT Advantage and Device Certification programs as an integral part of your Business Continuity Plan with your IoT hardware supplier.
Antennas are designed for a certain band or frequency. Using an antenna that isn't compatible with the right frequency in your location will impact your service and performance.
Here are a couple of ways to check your antenna:
- The elements on a 3G-only antenna are typically all the same length, where a 4G-capable antenna has elements of varying length and is arrow shaped.
- Check the labels on your antenna. If you see a code starting with an 8, or one with frequencies starting with an 8, they are 3G-only. 824 to 890 MHz is 3G-only.
- If you have the make and model, look up your antenna specifications. Check they cover the 4G frequency band ranges for:
- Band 28 (Frequency range 703 to 803MHz)
- Band 3 (Frequency range 1710 to 1880MHz).
We also encourage you to check your GO Repeater settings.
Telstra GO Repeaters (GO G31, GO G41 and GO ROAM R41) operate on both 3G and 4G and will not be impacted when 3G closes from 28 October 2024. However, in some instances they may have been configured to only operate on 3G.
To check your GO Repeater settings:
- Download the CEL-FI WAVE app from Google Play or the Apple App Store on your smartphone
- Open the app and ensure you're close to your GO Repeater so it can connect via bluetooth
- Select Settings
- Choose Band settings
- Under Technology, select 4G if not already selected.
Once the 3G network closes, any device that can only connect to 3G will no longer be able to send a signal, initiate a data session, voice call or send an SMS.
To be clear, if somebody needs medical help and presses an alert button that relies on 3G, the alert will not be sent. This could delay emergency response.
If your device supports 4G, in most cases it will continue to work. However, if it can make or receive voice calls, you'll also need to check with the supplier you purchased it from whether it supports Voice over LTE (VoLTE). Some older devices do not support voice over the 4G network.
If you do have a 3G-only device, or one that doesn't support VoLTE, changing the SIM doesn't affect the device’s ability to access the 4G network. We recommend you contact your supplier as soon as possible to upgrade.
How will Telstra help me with the transition or device replacement?
If you are using a 3G device and need help transitioning or finding a suitable replacement mobile device, please follow your organisations process to upgrade to a compatible device.
Telstra Enterprise Customers can self-serve a device replacement through Telstra Order Express or your Telstra Partner.
Frequently asked questions
How does this affect me
The Australian government has passed legislation – a law – that requires us to prevent mobile phones that cannot call emergency services (including Triple Zero (000) ) from accessing our network. To comply with this law, Telstra is blocking devices that can’t call Triple Zero (000) after 3G closure on Telstra’s mobile network. Devices were blocked from 28 October in line with the network closure.
The devices which are impacted are 3G only, Non-VoLTE (4G data, 3G Voice) and VoLTE capable but require 3G for Triple Zero handsets.
No, if you’ve been blocked because you don’t have a compatible device, you cannot make any calls or use any data. While you may be able to use Wi-Fi, and apps, such as WhatsApp or Messenger, they do not allow for emergency calls including Triple Zero (000) calls.
If you’re visiting from overseas and your device isn’t compatible with our network, it will be blocked from connecting. This is instantaneous from when you first turn on your phone. Your phone will still work once you leave Australia, and can still be used with Wi-Fi.
Incompatible devices will be blocked from accessing our network from 28 October, and Tasmania will be the first state to have its 3G network switched off.
Tasmania doesn’t share borders so we’re able to have better control of the overall experience to ensure the transition is as smooth as possible before we close down the mainland states and territories.
The rest of Australia will be completed by Monday 4 November, so while this is a progressive closure, it is relatively quick, and we urge you to check your tech and take any necessary actions in the next few days.
If you’re using a device that was set up for another country (i.e. you bought it overseas, it was imported, or it’s second-hand and you’re not sure where it’s from), it may not connect to our 4G network or experience reduced coverage
That’s because Telstra’s main 4G frequency is band 28 (B28)/700MHz. But in many countries, this frequency isn’t used for 4G, so phones aren’t configured to use it.
If you do not upgrade to a compatible device, you may not have network connectivity in places where B28 is the only available 4G frequency (usually outside major cities/ regional hubs). This could also impact your ability to make calls to emergency services including Triple Zero (000).
We’ve upgraded our 4G network to match the coverage of our 3G network, as outlined in our network coverage maps.
Now that 3G is closed, compatible devices will use the available 4G network, as well as the 5G network if using a 5G compatible device.
The Telstra Mobile Network is Australia’s largest, with 4G reaching 99.7 per cent of the Australian population and 5G to over 89 per cent, providing a more reliable coverage experience in more places across Australia. This will continue to improve as we repurpose 3G spectrum to further advance both 4G and 5G networks, which will further increase overall network capacity and improve service quality for many customers.
If you hear a recorded message on your phone about our 3G network closure, you need to take action to upgrade your device. You’ll hear the message if your device does not support 4G Band 28 (700Mhz).
You need to upgrade to a compatible device to avoid losing coverage in places where B28 is the only available frequency.
We can’t remove the message, as it’s vitally important to ensure you’re using a device capable of contacting emergency services including Triple Zero (000).
Once you’ve upgraded, the message will be removed, but it may take up to 24 hours to do so.
It's about providing a better experience for our customers.
When we launched 3G in 2006, we used our mobile devices for calls, texting and accessing basic information online. Since then, technology and customer usage has changed significantly, and so too must our network.
The Telstra Mobile Network is Australia’s largest, with 4G reaching 99.7 per cent of the Australian population and 5G to over 89 per cent, providing a more reliable coverage experience in more places across Australia. This will continue to grow as we repurpose 3G spectrum to further advance both 4G and 5G networks, which will further increase overall network capacity and improve service quality for many customers.
There are several reasons to why VoLTE may work on one network and not another. This includes requiring your device to support Telstra specific settings that are part of a global VoLTE standard managed by the GSMA, the global organisation that supports the telecommunications industry. All carriers, including Telstra, follow these standards to enable voice calls on 4G (VoLTE). If your device manufacturer hasn’t included Telstra’s settings (which are published in the GSMA global device settings database), it might affect your ability to use VoLTE on Telstra's network. Further, device manufacturers simply may not have enabled VoLTE on their device when used with a Telstra SIM.
Blocking is done at the TAC level - the first 8 digits of the IMEI which identifies the device type. It doesn’t distinguish between who you are or where you’re from like a ‘per device’ IMEI solution would. Given the sheer volume of devices, it is not [currently] feasible or practical for Telstra to manage blocking individually which is why it’s done at the TAC level. Because of this, it is not possible to remove the block on a single device IMEI.
we use multiple data sources to classify devices accurately. Since there's no industry wide, single source of truth, we continuously refine and validate our methods. These include:
- Industry data: We include data from the GSMA (an international body that represents the telecom industry) to initially determine the capabilities of device types and models. We cannot solely rely on this database and further validation is required.
- Telstra Device Testing: All devices sold through Telstra channels undergo rigorous testing to ensure compliance with our network, including voice, data and emergency calling capabilities.
- Observed Device Behaviour: We analyse actual device behaviour using call data records, network engineering data and various other sources to aggregate information down to the device model (TAC) and software (SVN) level. This helps us determine if customers need to upgrade their device, software, or change settings.
- Vendor Attestation: We get confirmation from device manufacturers and cross-check with our observations.
Telstra are not able to verify compatibility with devices that have had aftermarket modifications.
What this means for you
Global 3G decline
With the increased adoption of newer 4G and now 5G services, usage of 3G has declined globally
Network migration
We will decommission our 3G coverage in 2024. Grab this opportunity to migrate to faster and advanced services. Your 3G only devices will not work and your non-4G voice calling enabled 4G devices will not be able to make voice calls after this date.
Greater opportunities
With the increased adoption of newer 4G and now 5G servicLeveraging our mobile network infrastructure, our Cellular Low Power Wide Area Networks (Cellular LPWANs) are built specifically for scaled IoT deployments to give you better, cost-efficient coverage.es, usage of 3G has declined globally
Guided transition
Contact your Telstra representative and plan your migration now.
Times, Transitions and Technology Evolution
1987
1G (AMPS) only allowed for mobile phone voice calling
1992
2G (GSM) combined voice, SMS, and MMS on a digital network. It enabled the growth of mobile communications to the mass market and offered improved security compared to 1G
2005
3G (WCDMA/HSPA) the foundation of mobile broadband and also supported voice, data, basic internet access and video calls
2011
4G (LTE) offered higher data speeds than 3G, enabling full internet access, video streaming, higher resolution video calling and IP telephony (voice over UTE). Improved IOT capabilities (NS-IOT and LTE-M) were enabled in 4G
2019/20
5G promises even higher data speeds, more capacity, lower latency and more connectivity than 4G. AI, Cloud apps, automation, massive sensor networks and IOT will all be supported by 5G
What you need to consider
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Step 1: Start a dialogue
Get in touch with your Telstra client executive to discuss potential solutions
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Step 2: Take stock of devices
Identify the number of enterprise devices that are on 3G only or do not support 4G voice calling
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Step 3: Identify your needs
Know the unique requirements of your business and choose solutions tailored for you
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Step 4: Set a timeline
Work with your client executive to plan and define a comfortable transition timeline for you
Why choose Telstra?
Our history
We were the first to introduce 4G, gigabit capacity, LTE-B and have already transitioned millions of customers to advanced networks.
Our expertise
With our expertise, we can guide your transition from 3G to newer 4G and 5G services.
Our footprint
We already offer 4GX coverage to 99.2% of Australian customers.
Discover our mobile and IoT ready services to help your business in migrating from 3G
Internet of Things
Discover what our range of IOT service can help your business.
Enterprise Mobility
A range of fleet and mobile plans to enable a cost effective, mobilised workforce.
Mobile network coverage
Australia's largest mobile network, with greater reliability and faster speeds in more places.
Enterprise Plans and Devices
See what our range of 5G devices can do for your mobile workforce or office of the future.
Learn more about the Telstra 3G shutdown
The 3G Network closure is coming
Telstra announced in October 2019 that it would be shutting down its 3G network in October 2024. It's time to consider the complexities and challenges affecting Internet of Things (IoT) applications for those who have not yet begun this migration journey.
3G Shutdown & IoT: Why you need to migrate your devices now!
Telstra announced in October 2019 that it would be shutting down its 3G network in October 2024. For context, that announcement is already two years old and at the time of writing, only two and a half years or 31 months remain for our customers to transition their devices and services to 4G, 5G, LTE-M and NB-IoT networks.