Why the Telstra, Optus 3G shutdown is also a 5G problem in an emergency

Australia’s 3G shutdown will render some 5G devices useless, with the nation’s largest telcos set to identify and block certain devices from Monday.

A number of older 5G devices will be blocked from Monday as the 3G shutdown takes place.

Australia’s 3G shutdown will render some 5G devices useless, with the nation’s largest telcos set to identify and block those mobile phones from Monday.

New legislation requires the telcos to identify devices that they believe will not be able to reach triple-0 when the shutdown takes place.

Australia’s largest telco, Telstra, has warned that 5G devices purchased before 2019 as well as overseas-bought devices and older 4G are likely to be affected.

While the shutdown has been pushed back several times by Australia’s largest telcos, both Optus and Telstra have warned Monday is the final deadline.

The last extension granted in August pushed the data back to September 28, over fears a number of people were yet to upgrade their devices and the other medical devices which relied on the 3G network would become unusable.

Telstra has warned the shutdown on Monday will not be a “slow transition”.

3G networks will be shut down immediately in Tasmania, with the remaining 3G networks across the country shut down on Monday, November 4.

While Telstra will begin blocking devices not capable of making triple-0 calls over 4G or 5G networks on Monday, the nation’s second-largest telco Optus began blocking devices seven weeks ago, calling them “unsafe”.

Affected Optus customers have received notifications that read: “You have one or more mobile phones that don’t meet our safety standards, as they will not be able to make calls to Triple Zero (000) when the 3G network is switched off.

“As your phone or phones are unsafe, they will no longer work on the Optus mobile network.

“You immediately need to get a compatible phone(s) to use your service.”

A number of international students and tourists will be affected by the 3G shutdown as well as Australians and permanent residents who had purchased their handsets overseas – known as “grey market” devices – the Optus spokesman warned.

That was a serious problem, warned telco and IT expert James Parker, who said he believed blocking the devices of tourists was “unacceptable”.

“The new requirements from the minister don’t address the very serious issues with tourists and visitors being unable to call triple-0 with 4G and 5G phones,” he said.

The West Australian government on Friday warned that it had received a number of complaints from consumers who had recently purchased “refurbished devices” or “restored” second-hand phones and had discovered they will no longer work once the 3G shutdown takes place.

WA Consumer Protection Commissioner Trish Blake said she expected even more consumers would come forward with complaints.

“We’ve discovered that some online retailers in Australia are today still selling outdated phones that soon won’t function on Australia’s newer 4G and 5G networks,” she said.

“These obsolete phones will leave buyers unable to communicate, including during critical situations when calling triple-0 is essential, because they are not designed to support all the Australian mobile frequency bands.

“We are putting retailers on notice that by continuing to sell incompatible phones they may be breaching the Australian Consumer Law, which requires products to be of acceptable quality and fit for purpose.”

It’s not just devices being affected: legacy plans including 3G mobile broadband are to be switched off.

TPG has warned customers that they will need to find a new service and call the telco to cancel their 3G plan.

Telstra and Optus have set up a joint initiative to identify devices which will no longer work, establishing an automated system that can identify the devices and let users know.

To test whether your phone will work after the 3G network is shut down, text “3” to “3498”.

Originally published as Why the Telstra, Optus 3G shutdown is also a 5G problem in an emergency