Telstra 4G Mobile Coverage Expansion Completed In Hawkesbury LGA

Expanded Telstra 4G mobile coverage is now available across the Hawkesbury Local Government Area (LGA), meaning residents will now be able to enjoy the benefits of 4G including extra speed and capacity.

Telstra’s Regional General Manager for Northern NSW, Mike Marom said when the announced the shutdown of their 3G network in 2019, they committed to expanding their 4G service to match the existing 3G footprint before switching off the 3G services on August 31, 2024.

“Now local upgrade work has been completed and our testing shows equivalent Telstra 4G average is there, the final step is making sure our customers aren’t using 3G network-only devices or have a 4G mobile phone that requires a 3G network to make calls to Triple Zero,” Mr Marom said.

“The easiest way to check your mobile devices is to use Telstra’s free 3G SMS checker.

“This tool will show customers who use the Telstra mobile network if their mobile phone is impacted by the 3G network closure, and if so, any action they need to take.

“The SMS checker tests the service number you are texting from.

“If customers simply text the number “3” to 3498, we will text you back telling you if you need to take action.

“The 3498 number corresponds to “3GXT” on your phone’s on-screen dialling keypad.

“Tens of thousands of people have already used it, so it is easy to do and we encourage everyone to give it a try to make sure they aren’t caught out.”

This service only works for people using mobile devices on the Telstra network.

People using Optus or Vodafone-based networks will need to check with their carrier if any action is needed.

Until the 3G network is finally turned off, there will be no loss of 3G coverage.

Australians with 3G-only devices can continue to use them until then, but will need to make sure all their devices can access 4G.

This is not limited to mobile phones and includes 3G-only Telstra Cel-Fi, GO Repeaters, 3G-only Telstra Mobile Smart Antennas and Internet-of-Things (IoT) or Machine-to-Machine (M2M) devices such as EFTPOS, telemetry and some 3G-only medical devices.

Some older 4G mobile phones require a 3G network to make calls to Triple Zero, however they use the 4G network for all other calls.

This 3G-only connectivity is a hardware feature built into the design of the phone by the manufacturer and it is a global, industry-wide issue that many countries have already worked through as they have closed their 3G networks.

Over recent months, Telstra has contacted customers they were able to identify as using one of these devices to advise them they would need to upgrade.

Using the SMS checker will help confirm this.

In a small number of cases, some people may have a 4G voice and data capable device but their network settings are locked to 3G only, meaning they won’t be able to access 4G coverage.

Changing the phone network settings to include 4G will resolve the issue.

To make the most of the available 4G coverage, it is important to use a 4G-compatible device.

For people currently living on the edge of coverage in regional areas who may need to purchase a new 4G device, Telstra encourages them to choose one that is blue tick certified.

“Not all devices are created equal and mobile coverage can be impacted by a variety of factors,” Mr Moram said.

“How your device detects and connects with our network, particularly if you’re on the edge of coverage zone, matters.

“Blue tick devices have been thoroughly tested to ensure they’re able to maximise coverage reach.”

Visit www.telstra.com.au/support/mobiles-devices/3g-closure or contact your nearest Telstra store at Shop 2Market Place, March Street, Richmond if you want to find out more about the 3G closure or if you want to know if your devices are 4G compatible.

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