Most Australians have been made aware that our 3G network is soon to be switched off. YourLifeChoices flagged the imminent shutdown back in March. At the time, the Vodafone 3G network was already decommissioned. Telstra’s 3G network was slated to go the same way on 30 June and Optus on 1 September.
Our March article did suggest those dates could be pushed back, and that has indeed been the case. The new closure date for Telstra and Optus is now 28 October, one week from now. The extension has allowed those who have struggled with the process of upgrading their phones in readiness.
For the majority of Australians, whose phones use the still active 4G and 5G networks, the closure will have no impact. Our March article suggested that the vast majority of phones affected would be those manufactured prior to 2019. However, one thing that has become apparent in the interim is the number of mobile phones that are not ‘4G ready’ or ‘5G ready’ still being sold by retailers.
With the 3G shutdown now only days away, for those who have purchased these phones, the matter has become urgent.
How new 3G phones ‘slipped through the cracks’
CHOICE magazine exposed the potential extent of the problem last week. It highlighted the case of an 84-year-old user who had purchased a soon-to-be-redundant phone this year.
The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has been alerted to similar cases. The group identified a number of so-called ‘grey market’ retailers who had imported and sold phones “not fit for purpose”.
Carol Bennett, CEO of ACCAN, said for some people that could be a “serious health and safety risk … a life and death risk”.
The imported phones, “will not be compatible with Australia’s 4G and 5G networks once the 3G networks close”, she said.
Ms Bennett suggested many vendors were unaware of the potential problem because many of the imported phones were technically ‘4G-enabled’.
The problem with some of these US models is that they don’t support what’s known as ‘4G Band 28’. That band is one of the key ones used by Australian telcos to operate their 4G networks.
“The extent of the problem has been underestimated,” Ms Bennett said. “We’re talking to suppliers and refurbished device companies that don’t know about this.”
Phones purchased through major retailer also affected
In the case of 84-year-old user, the phone was purchased for her by her son, Michael Ramsden. Mr Ramsden sought to avoid problems associated with grey-market retailers by going to a major retailer, Coles.
However, to Mr Ramsden’s shock, he found that the phone he bought for his mother – an iPhone 11 – through a retailing giant would soon be incompatible. He only became aware of the potential issue when the phone began to receive warning messages.
“I was a bit taken aback because I thought [much] older phones will be affected,” he said.
The inability of these phones to tap into all 4G bands will exacerbate coverage difficulties when 3G is switched off. The 3G network currently acts as an effective back-up in such situations.
A Coles spokesperson told CHOICE it had now withdrawn several refurbished iPhone models from sale.
Will your phone be affected by the 3G closure?
While the number of phones that will be affected by the 3G closure is small, checking yours is advisable.
The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) has set up a website, www.3gclosure.com.au, to assist those who are unsure.
One simple way to confirm your phone’s compatibility is to text ‘3’ to the number 3498. You will receive an automated response from your provider, advising you of your phone’s status.
I tried this using my iPhone 15, and received the following message from my provider, Telstra: “Thanks for using our Telstra 3G checker. Good news – your device will work as normal after the 3G closure from 28 October 2024, so you don’t have to do anything.”
Do you have an older phone, or a recently purchased imported or refurbished phone? Have you checked to see if it will be affected by the 3G closure? Let us know via the comments section below.
Also read: How to recycle your old mobile phone
