Telstra delays 3G shutdown

Telstra has delayed the shutdown of its 3G network until August 31, to give impacted customers more time to upgrade to a new device. The telco was originally set to switch 3G services off on June 30, but further concerns around device compatibility have sprung up in recent months. 

The most pressing is that several 4G devices will no longer be able to make emergency calls after 3G is shut down, including popular handsets such as the iPhone 6 family, Galaxy S7 family, and Galaxy S8 family. Some older 4G phones won't be able to make calls at all after 3G is shut down, since they don't support VoLTE. These include the iPhone 5, iPhone 5S, iPhone 5C, and Galaxy S5. 

Telstra customers can check if their device will continue to function after it switches off 3G by texting "3" to 3498. In addition, Telstra will soon add a voice recording to the start of calls made using 3G-dependent devices as a "reminder to take action". This will be removed when the device has been upgraded. 

In a blog post, Telstra CEO Vicki Brady urged impacted customers to act now. 

"While there is now a little more time, please don’t delay," said Brady. "Our 3G network is closing soon, and it is important you act now. If you’re still using an impacted device after 31 August, you won’t be able to call Triple Zero for Emergency help."

Telstra says 99% of its 3G sites now have equivalent 4G coverage. It plans to match all existing 3G coverage with 4G by the time 3G is switched off.

Optus is set to shut down its 3G network in September this year. Vodafone finished closing its 3G network in January. 

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Alex Choros

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Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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