You may have already heard that Telstra and Optus are preparing to shut down their 3G mobile networks. This change will affect many existing mobile phone users. Introduced in Australia in 2003, 3G (Third Generation) was a groundbreaking technology at the time.
The time of 3G is ending, and these networks will soon become a part of history. Starting August 31, 2024, all mobile phones in Australia must be compatible with the 4G network. Fortunately, 4G has been available for nearly 13 years, running alongside 3G, so most phones are already compatible.
However, those using older phones that only support 3G will need to upgrade to stay connected.
For people who are blind or have low vision, there are many compatible 4G mobile phones available, including Apple’s iPhone range and Android phones from Samsung and Google.
In even better news, Telstra has confirmed that the Blindshell Classic 2 mobile phone is fully compatible with 4G, provided it is running the latest firmware. Over the past few months, Vision Australia, Quantum RLV, and Telstra have collaborated to ensure this compatibility.
If you are a Blindshell Classic 2 user, you might have already updated to the latest firmware. If not, we've created detailed instructions to help you perform the update here.
If you need assistance with the update, please contact Quantum at 1300 883 853 if you are a Quantum customer, or Vision Australia at 1300 84 74 66 (and ask for the AT Helpdesk) if you are a Vision Australia customer.
For general questions about the 3G closure, you can refer to Telstra's comprehensive list of Frequently Asked Questions: Telstra's 3G closure in 2024: your questions answered.