How to tell if your phone will work after the 3G shutdown

In easy phrases, when linked to 4G your smartphone must be “VoLTE” suitable to make these emergency calls. 

There are, nonetheless, some gadgets in Australia which may present as being 4G linked to the consumer, however as a result of they aren’t able to “VoLTE” (Voice over LTE/4G), they will not be capable of name Triple Zero.

Users of those telephones may suppose they’re good to go after the 3G shut down as a result of they do have a 4G cellphone, however it will not be till the worst potential time – after they want it most – they discover out they can’t name Triple Zero.

A Telstra spokesperson defined to 9News.com.au that some older 4G cellphones require a 3G community to make calls to Triple Zero.

“This is a hardware feature built into the design of the phone by the manufacturer and it is a global, industry-wide issue that many countries have already worked through as they have closed their 3G networks,” the spokesperson mentioned.

“Following the closure of Australia’s 3G networks customers with these devices will not be able to make Triple Zero calls despite the device otherwise working normally.

“To be capable of make an emergency name to Triple Zero as soon as the 3G cell networks are closed, 4G gadgets should assist, and be configured to make use of, Voice over LTE (VoLTE) emergency calling.

“Voice over LTE is the international standard all mobile networks use to carry voice calls over 4G networks.

“We are contacting clients we’ve been capable of determine as utilizing one among these gadgets to allow them to know they should verify their system and can doubtless must improve.”

It is however a very small sub-set of users likely to be affected, with Telstra’s own data showing just how limited the issue is.

“Since asserting the shutdown of our 3G community in 2019, the overwhelming majority of shoppers have upgraded their cell gadgets,” the spokesperson said.

“This is mirrored by the truth that 3G now accounts for just one per cent of our complete cell community visitors.

“We are working very hard to ensure that all areas that currently only have 3G coverage get 4G coverage before we close the 3G network on 30 June. More than 98 per cent of our mobile sites already have 4G installed.”

That push to create an equivalency between the 3G and 4G Network protection is a essential factor for Telstra within the final three months earlier than the 3G shutdown.

How have you learnt in case your cellphone is VoLTE suitable?

Unfortunately, VoLTE is not just like the lenses of the digicam, or the model of working system you might be utilizing – it isn’t a billboard marketed characteristic and even one thing that is simple to seek out inside your system.

9News has investigated a variety of gadgets and types and our greatest evaluation at this stage is as follows:

With 2020 being what seems to be the total transition yr for 4G handsets to undertake VoLTE, the perfect recommendation is to verify any cellphone from 2019 or prior.

You can do that by contacting your telco both in-person or by way of their name centre, and asking if the system they see linked to the community is VoLTE suitable.

Australia is way from the primary nation to transition away from 3G. The US networks began in 2017 and several other extra in 2022, whereas Germany shut down 3G in December 2021, Singapore across the similar time and Malaysia in 2022.

In 2023, Denmark, Slovakia, Greece, Hungary and Sweden all shut down their 3G networks.

The shutting down of the 3G networks permits that spectrum (the airwaves the community operates in) to be reallocated to spice up and assist the 4G and 5G community rollouts.