The first high-speed mobile network, 3G, was launched in Australia in 2003.

But as of today, all of its networks will have been shut down, impacting thousands of devices across the country.

Here’s what you need to know.

When does the 3G network shut down in Australia?

From today.

Telstra and Optus are ending their 3G services on October 28.

Telstra says it will take about a week to complete the shutdown, while Optus says it could take several months.

Vodafone shut down its network between December 2023 and January 2024.

Who will be affected?

Mainly those who live in remote areas.

Here’s more from the ABC rural reporter David Caughton:

“The people who will be most affected are those living in remote areas outside of existing 3G coverage who have received what Telstra and Optus describe as ‘accidental'”.

So “accidental” coverage refers to people who aren’t on the official 3G map but got a signal anyway. These people probably won’t be able to get the 4G signal because it doesn’t go as far as 3G.

Telstra has committed to matching existing 3G coverage, but not for people outside the coverage map.

While most people will be able to purchase a new 4/5G compatible phone, these regional areas will have limited options – and quite expensive, for example, satellite services.

Australian consumer Carol Bennet says there has always been a concern about the level of mobile connectivity in the regions.

“This closure just adds another layer,” Ms Bennet told ABC RN this morning.

“People are very concerned that they might suddenly find they don’t have connectivity to devices they didn’t anticipate.”

How do I know if my phone is 3G or 4G?

Clients on any network can SMS “3” to 3498 from the device you think might be affected.

Alternatively, you can enter your mobile phone 15-digit International Mobile Equipment Identification (IMEI) number in Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) tracker..

The telcos contacted affected customers individually before the outage.

Telstra CEO Vicky Brady said they had been communicating to customers the need to prepare and make the move for “almost five years”.

“This included multiple letters, billing messages, SMSes, public awareness campaigns and advertising,” Ms Brady said.

Which phones won’t work after a 3G shutdown?

If your phone was manufactured before 2019is likely to be affected.

Here are the phones that will probably stop working:

• 3G phones only
• Those who need settings changes to connect to 4/5G

In July, Optus head of new products Harvey Wright said 176,000 3G phones were at risk of being disconnected.

List of phones affected by the 3G shutdown

Optus has published a list of it 20 most used devices which will be affected. Here are some of them:

• iPhone 4
• iPhone 5
• Google Pixel 2 XL
• Samsung Galaxy S5
• Oppo A57
• Doro 6520

“Grey phones” a big problem

Newer 4G/5G phones purchased or imported from an overseas retailer, otherwise known as gray phones, may also be affected.

This is because they cannot work on Australia’s band 28 (700MHz).

So this can impact calls to triple-0.

What other devices could be affected?

Here are other 3G-based devices that may stop working:

• Amplifiers for mobile phones used to improve reception in cars, caravans and farms
• Medical devices including fall alarms, cardio monitors, oxygen systems and pacemakers
• Smart watches
• EFTPOS terminals
• Security cameras
• Agricultural machinery

What can I do if my device is affected?

i shall buy a replacement compatible with 4G or 5G networks and configured to support VoLTE for emergency calls.

VoLTE is a technology that allows voice calls to be transmitted over a 4G network.

You can also contact your carrier and carrier to update your phone or device.

Why is the 3G network shutting down?

As technology advances, 3G usage has gradually declined across Australia.

So all the major telcos are shutting down their 3G networks is focusing its efforts on increasing the capacity, speed and reliability of 4G and 5G networks.

Australia isn’t the only country to shut down 3G.

Most 2G and 3G services in the US have been phased out by the end of 2022, while China has completed most of its shutdowns by the end of 2023.