What the 3G shutdown changed
Australia's mobile networks were built on three generations of technology at once, and the oldest layer has now been retired. Telstra closed its 3G network in 2024, Optus followed in 2024, and Vodafone's 3G service ended earlier still. The practical effect for travellers is that a phone which handled calls and data fine on 3G in the past may now behave differently.
Two consequences matter most:
- Calls and texts need VoLTE. Voice over LTE carries calls as data on the 4G network. If your handset does not support VoLTE, or supports it only for certain carriers, it may not be able to place calls on an Australian network even though it shows signal bars.
- Older imported handsets are the risk group. Phones bought in some markets were configured for 3G fallback and never certified for the 4G voice stack used here. This is exactly the case the five-minute check below is designed to catch.
Which bands 4G and 5G use in Australia
Australian operators use a mix of frequency bands, and your phone needs to match at least the main ones for the network you will be on. The headline bands are:
| Technology | Bands commonly used in Australia | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| 4G LTE | 1, 3, 7, 8, 28 | Band 28 (700 MHz) carries a lot of rural and long-distance coverage |
| 5G | n78, plus lower bands such as n1, n5, n8, n28, n40 | 5G is a bonus, not a requirement — 4G is the workhorse |
A phone that lacks Band 28 will usually still work in cities but can lose coverage sooner once you leave them. A phone that lacks VoLTE support is the bigger problem, because it affects calls, not just speed.
If you want to know what that looks like on the ground, our guide to Optus network coverage for travellers walks through where the network reaches and where it thins out.
The emergency-call catch people miss
This is the part of the 3G shutdown that catches travellers out. When a network is switched off, phones that relied on it can lose the ability to make emergency calls — including calls to 000 — even though the handset still powers on and shows a signal.
Australia's regulator, the ACMA, and the operators have published warnings about this. The rule for a traveller is simple: do not assume your phone can call 000 just because it has signal bars. If your handset is old, imported, or was never sold in Australia, verify its emergency-call capability before you rely on it. If you cannot confirm it, treat the phone as a data device and keep a second, known-good phone for emergencies, or know how to ask someone nearby to call on your behalf.
How to check your exact model in five minutes
Do this before you book anything, and do it for your exact model number — not the marketing name. Variants sold in different countries carry different bands.
- Find your exact model number. On iPhone: Settings → General → About → Model Number. On Android: Settings → About phone → Model. The suffix matters (for example, a phone sold in one region may end in a different code than the same name sold elsewhere).
- Look up the band list. Search the manufacturer's own specification page for your model number and note the supported LTE and 5G bands. Compare against the table above.
- Check VoLTE support. Look for VoLTE in the specifications or the carrier-compatibility list. If the manufacturer does not list it, that is a warning sign, not a green light.
- Confirm the phone is carrier-unlocked. A handset locked to a home carrier will not accept a travel eSIM or a local SIM. Your carrier can confirm unlock status.
- Check eSIM support in the same pass. On iPhone: Settings → General → About, and look for an IMEI listed under the eSIM section. On Android: dial
*#06#and see whether an EID appears alongside the IMEIs. An EID means the phone can hold an eSIM profile.
If you would rather start from the plan side, Is eSIM available in Australia? covers which phones and networks support it.
eSIM compatibility in the same check
The eSIM check is the one most travellers can complete in under a minute, and it is worth doing at the same time as the band check because the answer decides what you buy.
| What you find | What it means | What to buy |
|---|---|---|
| EID present, phone unlocked, main 4G bands supported | Your phone can run a travel eSIM on an Australian network | A prepaid Australia eSIM before you fly |
| No EID, but phone unlocked and bands supported | No eSIM support, but a physical SIM will work | A prepaid physical SIM, or check the guides hub for options |
| Phone locked to a home carrier | Neither an eSIM nor a local SIM will work until it is unlocked | Ask your carrier to unlock it first |
| Phone lacks Band 28 and VoLTE | Data may work in cities, calls may not, coverage may drop outside them | Consider a newer handset, or plan around city travel |
One more thing worth knowing: the plans sold on the Australia eSIM store page are prepaid mobile-data products. They do not add an Australian phone number or ordinary voice minutes. If you need to receive verification texts on your home number, keep that line active and check roaming charges with your own carrier separately.
What to do if the answer is no
If your phone fails the check, you have three realistic options:
- Bring a second device. A tablet or an older but compatible phone can run the eSIM as a data line while your main phone stays on Wi-Fi.
- Replace the handset before you fly. If you are buying anyway, check the band list and VoLTE support of the new model before purchase, not after.
- Plan around it. If you are travelling within cities and staying on Wi-Fi for calls, a data-only eSIM may still cover you. Our Australia SIM setup checklist is a good pre-flight list to work through.
Preparing the eSIM before you fly
Once your phone passes, the order of operations matters:
- Buy the plan before departure, while you still have reliable Wi-Fi and your usual payment methods.
- Install the eSIM at home, following the order instructions. Installation does not start the clock.
- Validity begins when the eSIM first connects in Australia — not on purchase, and not on install. Check the plan's own product record for its validity window before you activate.
- On arrival, select the travel line for mobile data and follow the roaming setting in your order instructions.
If you hit a snag, the Help page covers installation, activation and troubleshooting, and the guides hub has destination-specific walkthroughs. For a longer stay, eSIM for a month in Australia explains how to match allowance to trip length. If you are weighing this against your home carrier's roaming, eSIM vs roaming in Australia sets out the trade-offs.
One caveat to keep in mind throughout: no guide can promise that a specific model works on a specific network. Bands, VoLTE certification and carrier locks vary by variant, so the check above is the only reliable answer for your handset. Coverage itself is a planning aid, not a promise of reception inside every building or along every road — use the named network's current coverage information for the places you will visit.