May 5th 2024.
Good news for customers of Australia's largest mobile network provider Telstra – the company has announced that they will be delaying the shutdown of their 3G network by two months. This decision was made in order to give affected customers more time to upgrade their devices before the network is closed.
According to Telstra CEO Vicki Brady, the extension was necessary to allow people to check and upgrade their devices. She stated, "We have decided to extend our 3G network closure by two months to allow people more time to upgrade their devices. We will close our 3G network on 31 August 2024."
This delay comes after a lot of attention has been given to the issue, with Federal Communications Minister Michelle Rowland urging the industry to better support customers who may not be aware that their devices will no longer be compatible after the 3G shutdown. One particular concern is for customers with older 4G devices that are hard-wired to use 3G for emergency calls, which may only become apparent when they need to call triple zero.
Telstra acknowledges that some customers may need more time to make the transition, stating, "We have to make sure everyone is ready to make this transition together, and we know some of our customers are still working through the steps they need to take to upgrade their devices. That's why we've decided to provide more time and further support."
The company also revealed that over 80,000 people have already contacted them or used their SMS 3G Checker in recent months, with 90% of them found to be compatible with the 4G networks post 3G switch off. To quickly check compatibility, users can simply SMS the number "3" to 3498.
In addition, Telstra will be adding a recorded voice message to outbound calls made from 3G phones. This message will play before the call connects, reminding users that they need to upgrade their device. Once a user has upgraded to a 4G or 5G compatible device, the message will no longer play.
Vicki Brady emphasizes the importance of taking action now, stating, "While there is now a little more time, please don't delay. Our 3G network is closing soon, and it is important you act now. If you're still using an impacted device after 31 August, you won't be able to call Triple Zero for emergency help." So to all Telstra customers, now is the time to check if your device needs to be upgraded.
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