Senate to probe 3G network shutdown

The Australian Senate has opened an inquiry into the shutdown of Telstra’s and Optus’s 3G networks – but it is not due to make findings until after the networks are scheduled to close.

The end of 3G has become contentious because some 4G handsets use 3G for Triple Zero calls, rather than voice-over-LTE (VoLTE).

That led the government to establish a working group with the three network owners (Telstra, Optus and TPG), and the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association, to manage the changeover.

TPG closed its 3G network in January, Telstra plans to close its network during this financial year, and Optus plans its phaseout by September 2024.

The Senate inquiry will be conducted by the Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee and has a report delivery date of November 2024.

As well as examining the impact on rural and regional customers, the inquiry will report on medical alert device users, industrial users, and whether the shutdown would impact “efficacy and capability in disaster situations”.

When the government announced the working group, it said carriers estimated there were 740,000 services in operation (SIOs).

That’s sharply down in just over 12 months: in February 2023, Telstra said it had around 1.9 million 3G SIOs in an investor presentation [pdf].

Singtel's financial results do not break out Optus' 3G SIOs.