This has been planned for some time, originally beginning of 2024 now pushed back until 1st November 2024.
This means that any phone or device using a 2G or 3G sim card will no longer connect to the mobile network, this can include phones / emergency devices / tablets and some cars with sim cards built in.
Because of this Optus and other carriers have given customer thousands of updated mobiles for free.
BUT even some 4G/5G mobiles won’t be able to make calls after the changeover.
4G or 5G phone refers to the data connection and is not actually used for phone calls in Australia.
Instead they use a system called VoLTE (Voice over Long-Term Evolution) - you may have seen this in the top of your mobile when making a call. A lot of overseas mobiles don’t use this system and instead make voice calls using the 3G network even though they are a 4G/5G phone.
For this reason it is important to only purchase mobiles meant for Australia network.
But this will also effect people traveling from overseas when they come to Australia.
There is a further problem, there are some 4G/5G mobiles that can make voice calls using the VoLTE but are unable to make emergency calls to 000. The Government is currently making new legislation to ban these phones from the 4g Network, this will cause a lot of E-Waste as thousands of phone will no longer work.
For further information or advice contact Phill at Phillica.
