Mobile
The End of 3G: Is Your Medical Alarm Safe?
The 3G network shutdown is complete, but thousands of devices are still offline. Check your medical alarms, EFTPOS machines, and farm sensors now.
The 3G network is officially dead in Australia. Telstra and Optus have switched off the towers to repurpose spectrum for 5G. While most phones transitioned fine, a silent crisis is unfolding for IoT (Internet of Things) devices.
The Forgotten Devices
It is not just about old Nokias. Thousands of critical devices relied on 3G:
- Medical Alarms: Many personal emergency alarms used 3G sims. If you haven't upgraded yours, it may not connect to 000.
- Smart Meters: older electricity meters used 3G modems to send data. If they go offline, you will receive "estimated bills" which are notoriously inaccurate.
- Farm Tech: Remote water gate sensors and trackers often used cheap 3G chips.
What To Do
Check your device model immediately. If it is more than 4 years old, contact the manufacturer. For mobile phones, ensure VoLTE (Voice over LTE) is enabled in your settings, otherwise, you won't be able to make calls even if you have 4G data.
How to Check Your Own Devices Right Now
Don't guess — verify. For a personal medical alarm, call the manufacturer or your monitoring service provider directly and ask explicitly whether your specific unit connects via 3G, 4G, or a newer network standard; most providers ran (or are still running) a proactive replacement campaign but not everyone was reached. For a home security system or smart meter, check the installation paperwork or sticker on the unit itself for a network/SIM type, or contact the installer. If a device is more than four years old and you can't quickly confirm it's 4G or newer, treat it as at-risk until proven otherwise.
Compensation and Replacement Schemes
Because medical alarms are a genuine safety issue, telcos faced regulatory pressure to run structured transition programs — including free or subsidised replacement units for pension and concession card holders in many cases. If your alarm provider hasn't proactively replaced an affected unit, ask directly whether a concession-linked replacement scheme applies to you; don't assume you have to pay full price for an upgrade.
It's Bigger Than Phones and Alarms
The same risk applies to older EFTPOS terminals, farm water-level sensors, some car SOS/telematics units, and building intercom systems that quietly relied on 3G modems to phone home. If a device "just stopped working" for no obvious reason recently, a dead 3G modem is now one of the first things worth checking.
Checklist for Action
- Audit your current bills: Gather your last 12 months of statements for Mobile.
- Compare the market: Use SaveNest's comparison tools to identify the top 3 cheapest providers in your area.
- Check for loyalty taxes: Call your current provider and ask them to match the best offer you found online.
- Verify concessions: Ensure you are receiving all state and federal rebates you are entitled to.
- Set a reminder: Mark your calendar for a 6-month review to ensures you stay on the best plan.
- Share the savings: Tell a friend or family member how much you saved to help them avoid the 'lazy tax' too.
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