I know this is ages away, however..
Telstra will be switching off 3G in 2024.
Although in 2024, who would still be using it.. and any current tech would be getting old by then anyway..
Site Blurb..
After switch off, you will not be able to access the Telstra Mobile Network to make or receive voice calls,
While this is still a while away, we’re making the announcement now so our customers have plenty of time to change to newer devices if they have a 3G only device, or a 4G device that doesn’t have 4G voice calling (HD Calling) capability.
We launched 3G in 2005 and it was cutting edge technology at the time. We now offer our customers extensive 4G coverage which provides vastly better data speeds and improved customer experience for streaming sport and entertainment and using graphics and video rich social media platforms. We have now also launched the next generation of mobile technology 5G which will bring advancements in mobile gaming, virtual reality experiences, HD video conferencing and other applications not yet even contemplated.
As customers increasingly move from 3G to take up the benefits of newer technology we will be repurposing the 850MHz spectrum, currently used to provide 3G coverage, to support our 5G rollout. This will let us grow and improve our delivery of next generation 5G technology.
Not really, there was large fleets of 2G devices still on the network when they had been shutdown. All low data/low usage things had been on 2G, everything from car GPS trackers to lift emergency phones, to water meters, to gate openers, to monitoring devices and some smart meters to name a few. Plus a million candy bar/flip phones still in use.
So while the general public might not have been using 2G heavily, the 2G network was used. The 3G network is going to be no different, as most of that above was just upgraded to 3G, some was upgraded to 3G/4G devices.
Its funny as most of the world still has 2G running for these devices, But Australia is dead set on killing it all off.