Telstra and Optus are urging Australians to upgrade to new phones quickly, with Optus providing 20,000 free handsets to customers in need.

With the impending shutdown of the 3G network in Australia, the major telcos are facing increasing pressure to ensure that every Australian can access emergency services by connecting to triple-zero. Optus has announced plans to distribute 20,000 new phones to assist vulnerable individuals in transitioning to the newer network.

Telstra is scheduled to deactivate the 3G network on August 31, after extending the original closure deadline set for June. Meanwhile, Optus will follow suit in shutting down its 3G network in September.

TPG Telecom and Vodaphone have already turned the service off. 

Industry data shared with the government reveals that there are still 102,000 mobile phones in use across the country that do not support 4G technology, underscoring the need for support and assistance for those who may be left without proper connectivity following the network shutdown.

These devices – often bought overseas or second-hand – use 4G data for regular calls and texts, but drop triple-zero calls to 3G because they are not enabled with a technology called Voice over LTE.

Users may not realise their phone is configured this way by the manufacturer until the 3G network is switched off and they need to call the emergency line.

The number of these devices in use has reduced from 740,000 in March, after the government formed an industry working group.

The telcos’ significant effort to reach affected customers is encouraging, but more needs to be done, Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said.

‘The government is keen to see this work ramp-up and continue,’ Ms Rowland said in a statement on Thursday morning.

‘All Australians must have confidence in the triple-zero service.

‘I encourage everyone to check their own device, speak to friends, family and loved ones about the 3G switchover and reach out directly to their service providers for further information.’

Telstra and Optus have a service for customers to check the status of their device by texting ‘3’ to the number 3498.

Users will also hear a pre-recorded message on non-emergency outgoing calls if they need to upgrade their phones. 

The Australian Mobile Telecommunication Association (ATMA) CEO Louise Hyland urged customers to upgrade all of their devices once the 3G network is switched off.

Anyone with a mobile phone still connected to the 3G network has been urged not to call triple-0 to check if their device is still connected, but to visit the ATMA site instead.

Mobile phone users supported by 3G will not be able to make the emergency call once the network is scrapped for good.  

Optus research released last week identified suburbs and regions with the highest number of incompatible devices, where many residents are native Mandarin, Cantonese, Arabic, Vietnamese and Korean speakers.

Some areas may also have large cohorts of international university students.

The city suburbs with the highest number of affected devices on the Optus network were Melbourne’s CBD and Sydney’s Macquarie Park, Marsfield and Millers Point.

Top regional areas were Port Hedland, Western Australia, Cairns and Sarina in Queensland, and Griffith and Orange in NSW.

Optus was using the research to target those demographics through social and local media.

Both telcos said they have been improving their 4G and 5G coverage in the lead-up to the 3G closure.

Meanwhile, Optus will offer 20,000 eligible customers – including those suffering financial hardship and the elderly – a free handset to make the change.

The telco is also offering existing pre-paid customers up to $400 off any handset on an eligible plan to upgrade from 3G, and $1 per month contracts under 24- or 36-month terms on select handsets.

Optus customers are understood to been notified through messages about the  network upgrade. 

Other retailers have also take similar steps to facilitate the transition.