The Albanese Government acknowledges the decision of Telstra and Optus to delay their 3G switchover from late August to 28 October to give Australian customers and businesses more time to prepare.
Telstra and Optus have also now committed to undertaking a national public media campaign to ensure Australians are informed of the impacts for some handsets.
The public media campaign is expected to reach more than 90 per cent of Australians and emphasise the impact on both traditional handsets and other devices that rely on the 3G network, such as personal medical alarms, emergency lift phones and fire alarms.
Importantly, telcos have also committed to ensuring 3G-only areas will have no loss of coverage as a result of the switchover, with Telstra undertaking independent testing in impacted areas to ensure this occurs.
The 3G network switchover was first announced in 2019, and will provide a more efficient use of spectrum by mobile network operators to boost capacity and data speeds.
The Government supports the switchover, but we remain committed to ensuring it is done in a safe way.
The mobile industry Working Group - set up by the Albanese Government in March this year - is continuing to address concerns about the risk to public safety, while improving efforts to identify and contact customers with impacted handsets and make information available on the impacts of the switchover.
The Government continues to encourage all Australians to check if their mobile device will be impacted by the switchover by texting '3' to '3498' or by visiting: www.3gclosure.com.au
Quotes attributable to Minister for Communications, the Hon Michelle Rowland MP:
"While I am pleased that customers and businesses now have additional time to prepare for the 3G switchover, I want to encourage all Australians to take action and check if their device could be impacted.
"The Government remains concerned about a subset of 4G phones configured by the manufacturer to default to 3G for Triple Zero calls, and personal medical alarms that rely on the 3G network.
"This is a sensible move by both major telcos and the Government looks forward to ensuring that all Australians have the opportunity to be informed about what the 3G switchover will mean for them."
