3G Network Service Closure

Yes, we are working hard to upgrade areas to ensure equivalent 4G coverage before the 3G network is switched off.

Our 3G network will remain open until 30th June 2024.

Your network experience should improve, and in most cases, you’ll notice a substantial improvement in speeds when you move from 3G only coverage to 4G coverage. Our 4G service accesses greater bandwidths and is more efficient than 3G, leading to higher end user speeds.

The speed you experience is determined by a range of factors including how close you are to a tower, how much traffic the site is carrying, if there’s any obstructions impeding the network (i.e. buildings, hills, vegetation etc.) and what sort of device you’re using.

While it’s not quite as simple as flicking a switch, the closure will commence from 30th June 2024 and is likely to happen relatively quickly. We will confirm our closure schedule close to the closure date, but there will be no loss of 3G coverage prior to 30th June 2024.

In areas that currently only have a 3G signal, we’re committed to providing 4G coverage prior to the closure of the 3G network.

Note that to ensure equivalent 4G coverage to 3G after its closure, it is important that customers are using appropriate devices – for example, if currently using a blue-tick 3G device you will need a blue tick 4G device, or if currently relying on a 3G T-Go or TMSA coverage extension device you will need an equivalent 4G device to ensure coverage equivalence.

By repurposing our 3G spectrum to supplement our 5G network it will enable us to provide a better experience for our customers. Traffic on our 3G network has declined significantly and continues to do so as we modernise our network with newer and better technologies.

If you have a device that is only able to connect to 3G you will be unable to connect to Telstra’s network post 3G closure. Likewise, if you have a mobile device that does not have Voice over LTE (VoLTE) technology, even if the mobile device is 4G/5G, it will not be able to make voice calls after 30th June 2024.

You will need to upgrade your device to a 4G/5G VoLTE capable and compatible device before 30th June 2024. Doing so will ensure that you can access Telstra’s network and will have both data access and voice calling compatibility.

You can find out more about VoLTE, including what it is, what devices are compatible, and how to check or enable VoLTE on your phone here: How do I enable VoLTE on my mobile device? | Telstra Support. Also see Question 9 below for more information.

Customers using 3G mobile, IoT and network extension devices, some EFTPOS machines, medical devices and antennas that operate on the 3G network only will be able to continue using their device or antenna until 30th June 2024. After this date, if the device has not been updated to be 4G or 5G compatible, it will no longer work.

Voice over LTE (VoLTE) lets you make phone calls over our 4G (LTE) network. Your mobile device will use 4G to make and receive these calls in areas where 4G (LTE) is available. When our 3G network closes on 30th June 2024, VoLTE will be required to make or receive phone calls on the Telstra mobile network. It is important to note that:

- 3G phones do not have VoLTE; and

- Not all 4G/5G phones have VoLTE and/or are compatible with the Telstra network.

We strongly recommend that if you have a 3G mobile device, you upgrade to a 4G/5G mobile device that is VoLTE capable and compatible prior to 30th June 2024.

If you already have a 4G/5G mobile device, we strongly recommend that you check that your device is VoLTE capable and compatible. You can check your mobile device by following the instructions on the Telstra website that you can find here: How do I enable VoLTE on my mobile device? | Telstra Support

It is common for customers to upgrade their equipment every few years. We made a public announcement in October 2019 that we’d be saying goodbye to our 3G service. We have been, and will be, there to help customers and ensure the transition is as seamless as possible.

We are seeing a consistent, steady decline in the number of people using our 3G network. We launched our 4G service in 2011 and customers have progressively upgraded their devices to make use of the increased speeds and services available on this network. In May 2019 we also launched our 5G network which now covers more than 80 per cent of Australia’s population.