Keep Connected: Navigating the Shift From 3G to A Brighter Telecommunication Future

So, in an era where air isn’t really free and connectivity is to oxygen what blood is to water, the move from 3G to the wired new world of 4G and further to 5G is a massive jump. But as telecoms giant Telstra pauses its transition, extending its 3G network closing dates, to allow everyone to make the most of the new technology, it’s clear the world falls behind those who haven’t made the switch.

Understanding the Extended Lifeline of 3G

Whereas the 3G network was originally set to be turned off on 30 June 2024, it has been granted a last-minute reprieve. It will now shutter on 30 August 2024, but not without Telstra extending a helping hand. The telco doesn’t want anyone given the boot without a moment to spare, even going to the lengths of a temporary extension. No customer would be left dataless! The slow grind to the end was still happening – the clock was still ticking to eve. The sun was still setting, and no customers need be left in its slowly setting, technologically forsaken glow. 3G had granted some people and communities extra time, a breathing space to adapt and upgrade.

Why This Matters: A Closer Look at Connectivity's Evolution

The leap from 3G to 4G and 5G networks won’t just be a technical upgrade: it will be the next phase in making digital communications more dependable and reliable, faster and more stable in all weathers and conditions. While there are technical differences between 3G and 4G and 5G, the jump won’t just be a succession of technical leaps, it will also be a collective jump, making sure that everyone, every device and every service hits the ground at exactly the same time – no one left stranded in a bygone technological era.

The Steps to Seamless Transition

Wherever tethered 3G devices see a radio tower, the message from Telstra is: check, upgrade, stay connected. In its SMS service, Telstra provides a lighthouse for those navigating a path towards the upgraded future. ‘Text “3” to 3498 … receive a message with your device’s compatibility as we transition to 4G and 5G.’

The Tech Behind the Transition

Technically: VoLTE, short for Voice over LTE, is the next generation of call quality. It’s how phones make calls on 4G and 5G networks. Almost by definition, phones that can’t make VoLTE calls are phones that can’t use the capabilities of phones on newer networks. Phones that connect over 3G and have to make emergency calls through that connection are phones in technological limbo – they need an upgrade to take advantage of the new capabilities of their new network.

The Future Is Now: Embracing 4G and 5G

This transition is enabled by Telstra’s investment in upgrading the network infrastructure and, with more than 99 per cent of our 3G network sites already upgraded, the next step is testing and tuning, to make sure the customer experience is the best it can be. The leap in capabilities means much more than faster and more reliable connectivity. The evolution to 5G, and the wider and more affordable network that it opens up, enables us to reimagine bringing a better-connected Australia to life.

Understanding Phones: The Heart of Connectivity

At the centre of this evolution are the phones, the devices themselves. Briefly, the phones are black boxes that connect the world to us, that help us change the world, that make us remain engaged with the world – so much so that the change in telecommunications from 3G to 4G to 5G is the change in that lifeline.

TELSTRA’S 3G CLOSURE FAQs

How do I know if I’m impacted?

If your connectivity tether—your mobile PHONE —still offers its data over 3G, then Telstra has most likely been in touch via SMS or email. All you have to do to clear things up is send a simple SMS to 3498 and find out immediately if your phone is a candidate for an update.

Should I wait until 4G is available before I upgrade my PHONE?

With 99 per cent of the 3G network already equal to the strength of a 4G network, upgrading is now the time. Have your phone updated to use the 4G and 5G networks with ease.

I have a 4G PHONE, why am I getting messages about upgrading?

Indeed, many 4G phones fall back on the 3G network when making emergency calls. Shutting down 3G networks will require phones to have devices that make all calls – not just emergency calls – with technology as powerful as VoLTE, so that they don’t leave subscribers stranded.

What should I do with my old PHONE?

Redispose. What was your window on the world might yet have a future in another.

I can’t afford to upgrade, can Telstra help?

We, at Telstra, are here for them. We are here for everyone who wants a helping hand over the economic barrier to limitless connectivity. We are here with options, with steps and choices, for the next stage of the human online revolution.

With 4G and 5G networks, much faster and more reliable connections come to more and more communities, bringing limitless possibilities well into the future. Telstra ad 2017.