Frequently Asked Questions

A: Australia's telecom providers - Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone - phased out 3G to free up spectrum for 4G and 5G services. Vodafone shut down its network starting 15 December 2023, with Telstra originally planning to shut down on 30 June 2024, followed by Optus in September 2024. However, due to concerns about emergency calls, Telstra and Optus both delayed their shutdown to 28 October 2024.

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A: Unlike 2G and 3G, 4G and 5G networks rely on VoLTE (Voice over LTE) for calling. If a phone lacks the necessary software compatibility, it may be unable to make calls, including emergency calls, even if it can connect to a 4G network.

A: The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) initially estimated that 258,000 4G phones would be affected. However, on 1 October 2024 the number of impacted devices was 516,875, that also includes newer 4G and 5G models that work perfectly for Emergency Calls.

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A: In late August 2024, the then Communications Minister (Minister Rowland) directed the ACMA to amend emergency calling rules, requiring telcos to block phones that do not support 000 emergency calls (over 4G). While this was intended to ensure public safety (an entirely reasonable motivation), it led to widespread network disconnections, even for fully functional 4G/5G devices that do not require 3G for 000 calls.

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A: Unlike Australia, some countries have maintained older networks for compatibility. France will continue 3G until approximately 2028/2029, while the UK is expected to keep 2G operational until 2030/2033 to ensure emergency call availability.

European telecom providers have delayed network shutdowns to properly address compatibility concerns. 

A number of European countries were looking at switching off either 2G or 3G from 2025 - 2026, however since the Shutdown of 3G in Australia a number of European providers have announced further delays to their shutdowns.
(Devices that lack VoLTE Calling and Emergency Calling can use 2G or 3G (Circuit Switched Fallback) for calls, roaming calls and Emergency Calls.)

In June 2024 Swedish Provider Telia announced a further 2 year delay for shutting down 2G until 2027. Citing concerns for the Agriculture Sector and Critical Services
Source

In October 2024, Telia’s Estonia counterpart stated that 2G services would not shutdown until at least 2029.
Source

In the Netherlands the provider KPN in December 2024 announced a 2 year delay to shutting down 2G until December 2027.
Source

Germany’s Deutsche Telekom (T-Mobile) in October 2024 confirmed they would be shutting down 2G in June 2028.

Vodafone Germany was set to switch of 2G in 2025, however has since stated that “..the switch off of the 2G technology will occur in phases up to the end of 2030,”
Source

A: A device that is IMEI/TAC (Serial Number) Blocked will show no signal strength or network when a SIM is inserted. Depending on the device, you may also see a “Phone not allowed for voice” or “SIM not allowed” message display upon SIM insertion or power-on. (The TAC is the first 8 digits of the Device IMEI/Serial Number)

You may also see a “No Service” message or “Emergency Calls Only.” Devices that are not blocked will show a valid network name and signal when a SIM is inserted, if your device can still send or receive SMS your device is not being IMEI/TAC Blocked.

However blocked 4G/5G devices can still 'camp-on' and connect to networks in the background, but will not display any 4G service (signal).

There are Network Monitoring and Diagnostic Apps that can be used to check if the phone is connected to a network or does connect to a network when calling 000, such as NetMonster or Network Signal Guru.

Future Blocking: If your device is currently not blocked but is set to be blocked, the mobile carriers must give you by law 28-35 days notice.
You should receive messages that say something like:
"Your device will be blocked by [TELCO NAME], which means you won’t be able to make or receive calls/text or use mobile data. You immediately need to get a new compatible device to stay connected."
or
"This phone will be blocked from the [TELCO] mobile network as you phone may not be able to call Triple Zero (000). Once this phone is blocked, you won't be able to use it for calls (including to 000), texts or data on the mobile network."

Note: Devices that are Network/Sim Locked will typically prompt for a sim unlocking code. Device IMEI/TAC Blocking and Carrier Network Locking are entirely different, Network/Sim Locking is device side, IMEI/TAC Blocking is network side. Network unlocked devices can be IMEI/TAC Blocked from some or all of the networks.

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A: TL;DR: Incompetence and a lack of proper analysis prior to shutdown.

Though for some older models, they should be blocked on specific networks as inserting a particular carrier SIM card into a device will cause the device to load a different modem configuration/profile. Some of these older configs, especially for Vodafone, can make VoLTE Calls but not VoLTE (4G) Emergency Calls. (e.g Samsung Galaxy S6, S7, (Retail/Vodafone) Xperia XZ Premium and more)

Though the Telstra, Optus, (or Vodafone) configuration on a given generation of device may support both calling or emergency calling.

For reference, Vodafone removed a large number of ‘4G 000’ affected devices from their website in late July/August 2023 that support VoLTE Calling but not to 000. This was several months before the Government and Minister were made aware of the scale of the issue by the Telcos in late February 2024.

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A:If your device is blocked from some or all of the networks but can still call 000 (Do Not Test Call 000) it was likely blocked in error due to a lack of detailed analysis by the telcos prior to shutdown.

Phones that require 3G for Emergency Calls now just get stuck on Calling, this can also occur with 'offically supported' devices with software issues.
As shown below.

 4G Emergency Call Failure - Post Shutdown

Some devices prior to the 3G Network Shutdown would pick 3G first for Emergency Calls but without 3G would perfectly place an Emergency Call over 4G with VoLTE.

With some devices VoLTE is off by default and therefore the phone would have been using 3G (Circuit Switched Fallback) for all calls by default.

Additionally some devices are VoLTE enabled but use Generic/Global VoLTE Profiles, prior to shutdown devices using the most widely used Generic 'Open Market' VoLTE profiles could not register to obtain standard call service on the Telstra network. Telstra therefore assumed those devices were 3G only for all calls when they were only 3G for Standard calls due to Telstra not supporting the most common VoLTE profiles.

See 'Q: What is needed for VoLTE to work on my device?' for more info.

Note: Some phones become incompatible when inserting different network sim cards, this can occur if the device loads a defective Carrier Modem Profile (for a given telco sim) that cannot make Emergency Calls over 4G.

This is more common with older devices made prior to 2018/2019, however not all devices sold prior to 2018 are impacted by this particular issue, many work for 000 on 4G regardless of the network and sim inserted. Modern 4G/5G devices typically use Global/Generic 'Open Market' VoLTE profiles that support VoLTE Calling and Emergency Calling globally.

Many of these global devices were also blocked from some or all of the networks likely due to a lack of historical 4G 000 calls and generally due to poor analysis of devices capabilities.

A: Currently No, the Telcos are refusing to unblock devices even when consumers show they can still call 000, and on every network. They also refuse to provide the exact data as to why they did or didn’t block specific models and the exact technical data and call volumes that resulted in a given model being blocked.

The telcos have blocked devices in error but refuse to acknowledge this. Some users have spoofed the IMEI (hardware serial number) of their device (at a baseband / modem level) and changed it to a different model, bypassing the blocks entirely, as to the carriers it presents as an entirely different make and model.

Do note that tampering with an IMEI of a device is not legal in Australia. Spoofing the IMEI in settings/software is also not sufficient—it has to be spoofed at the Baseband. This typically requires an unlocked bootloader and root access with special software.

Update Note Nov 2025: Your device may be individually IMEI Blocked by TPG/Vodafone (including on a Virtual provider, iiNet, Kogan, Lebara etc) if your device software (IMEI-SV) [Software Version] is out of date. To have your phone unblocked you need to complete the below form.
Vodafone/TPG IMEI Unblock Form

Telstra & Optus Networks: If your device is a 'Firmware Update' or 'Not Blocked - SW Update' category it may also be IMEI Blocked by Telstra & Optus if not fully up-to-date. You will need to contact your provider to have your device unblocked once the latest software update has been installed, this does not apply to devices models that are categorised as 'Blocked'.

For blocked lost/stolen devices or To check if your device is IMEI Blocked, please use the AMTA Stolen Device Checker

A:Yes, depending on the model and if the telcos think it’s ‘incompatible,’ it may be blocked from some or all of the networks, even when using VoLTE 4G Roaming.

Additionally, some older devices listed as ‘Not Blocked’ may be blocked from roaming service with an international SIM card but not a local telco SIM card. This includes devices that had perfectly working VoLTE Calling and VoLTE Roaming Calling on 4G prior to the 3G Shutdown. The telco checkers do not report if a device is blocked with an International Roaming SIM. When Roaming Blocked devices may also see a "Phone not allowed for voice" or "SIM not allowed" message.

Additionally, the policy direction issued by the then Communications Minister in August 2024 was written to exempt travelers (tourists) from device blocking, but as the telcos can’t exempt devices used by tourists due to using TAC (Hardware Model) Blocking, they have blocked them as well.

Following on from the Senate Inquiry into the Shutdown of the 3G Mobile network, Telstra reported that in July 2024, they had 2.3 million international roaming devices connected to their network and were unable to confirm the [VoLTE] calling capability of those devices.

In answers to Questions taken on notice from the 12 February 2025 3G Shutdown Senate Inquiry Hearing (with the Department of Infrastructure), the Department advised that "The ACMA and the industry continue to work through the practicalities of this requirement."

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A: If you have signal bars but mobile data isn’t working, you may not have the correct Data APN (Access Point Names) configured in device settings to access the internet.

On some devices, these settings will auto-download when connecting to WiFi, but others require manual entry.

Search for “Your Telco & APNs” on Google, or if you're with an MVNO (Virtual Operator), search for the main provider. For example:

• Aldi, Boost etc → Search Telstra APNs
• Aussie BB, Amaysim etc → Search Optus APNs
• Kogan, Lebara etc → Search Vodafone APNs

A: No, devices that receive any level of service, including Data & SMS, are not being IMEI/TAC blocked by the telcos.

Your device either has VoLTE Calling switched off in settings, or it may not be running a modem configuration/profile compatible with your carrier network. (Example: An Optus-sold phone with Optus firmware running on the Telstra network—i.e., a “Function Limited” device).

In some cases, your SIM card may need to be replaced if it lacks the necessary data to enable VoLTE Service. However, if VoLTE Call service works on another device, then the SIM is not the issue.

Even without VoLTE call service (over IMS), you should still have 000 Emergency Calling service (over SOS), but due to poor analysis by the telcos, your device may not be able to make an emergency call even though the make and model is supposedly capable.

The telcos have no real-time visibility into the emergency calling capability of individual devices. They only block based on the Make and Model (TAC), not whether your specific device has working emergency calling. Your phone could display “Emergency Calls Only” or “SOS Only” without a SIM card but still fail to place an emergency call over 4G.

Until there is a publicly accessible 000 Test System, it’s difficult to confirm emergency calling functionality without actually attempting a real emergency call.

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A:If your device is blocked you won't be able to test for anything other than Emergency Calling support.
For non blocked devices, for a device to actually work and be working, VoLTE has to both be 'provisioned' and a carrier compatible modem configuration/profile must be loaded on the device.

Not all devices will have VoLTE enabled by default or a VoLTE enabled Modem Configuration running out of the box. Newer 4G/5G Devices frequently use Global/Open Market VoLTE (4G Calling) Profiles. These global profiles are intended to work on any network for VoLTE calls and Emergency Calls. (GSMA 'Open Market Device')

However prior to the Shutdown of the 3G Mobile Network in October 2024, Telstra did not support the most widely used Generic 'Open Market' VoLTE Profiles.

For devices to have VoLTE Call service on Telstra they needed to be running either a Telstra specific Modem Config/Profile or the latest GSMA Global Profile.

As a result this meant that many VoLTE capable devices not sold by Telstra (or Telstra handset partners) were unable to obtain standard VoLTE Call Service, but could work on Optus and Vodafone as both providers supported common generic VoLTE profiles.

Though those 'Open Market' profile devices still had working VoLTE/4G Emergency Calling on Telstra as Emergency Calls are carried over a seperate VoLTE connection 'SOS' vs 'IMS'. However Telstra saw these phones as 3G only for calls and assumed they were 3G only for all calls including 000.

Those devices generally would have picked 3G first for 000 but would pick 4G without 3G.

As of late January/early February 2024 Telstra now supports the most widely used Generic VoLTE profiles, even VoLTE profiles from Android 7 (2016) can register and Obtain Call on Service on Telstra.

This issue was raised at the 3G Shutdown Senate Inquiry on 23 July 2024 and is mentioned in the Interim Report from 1 August 2024, however up until the shutdown nothing was done about this issue by regulators.

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A:Some devices lack LTE Band 28 700MHz, these devices aren't blocked but don't support the primary 4G/LTE Bands used by Telstra and Optus. These are frequently US Model iPhone Xs and 11 Models, in addition to various US and Asia sold Devices.

If you are with Telstra (or a Telstra MVNO) you may here an outbound message every time you make a call that says "Your device may have reduced network connectivity and will not always be able to call triple zero. For your safety, upgrade to a compatible device now. Call Telstra for more."

A Band 28 Limited device that is capable of Emergency Calls is permitted to connect and can call 000 on multiple networks, however if the device is in area with only B28 700MHz coverage then the device would be without service, including Emergency Calling. By contrast Vodafone primarily uses Band 5 (850MHz) which is supported on almost all 4G/LTE devices, however Vodafone does rely on Optus 700MHz for some of their regional coverage.

Note: Both prior to the 3G Shutdown and after some devices with Band 28 700MHz were being subjected to this message when placing calls, often this happens on older devices that are classified as "Not Blocked" by Telstra but Telstra didn't directly sell. However the exact same general model of Phone sold by Telstra are not subjected to this message. (Example Telstra sold Xperia XZ Premium is not subjected to this message but the Retail Version of the XZ Premium (with a Retail TAC) is).

Additionally iPhones with older versions of iOS such as iOS 10 also hear this outbound message.
This message was playing on devices until at least early March 2025 but as of April/May seems to have ceased for some users but still continues for others.

A:No, this data has been compiled over a period of time and may not be accurate for all devices.

Devices may have limited or reduced functionality on 4G and 5G networks depending on the exact software and hardware capabilities on the device. This includes but is not limited to support for VoLTE Calling, Emergency Calling, Wi-Fi Calling (VoWiFI), RCS, Band Aggregation etc.

The telcos do not formally publish a list of blocked and unblocked devices in a spreadsheet and currently largely hide the list of blocked devices. This site aims to bring more transparency to consumers so they know what devices are actually blocked from mobile services.

The telcos should be required by regulators to publish the full list of blocked and supported devices in an accessible spreadsheet format.

A: This site checker doesn’t list every device. 2025 and newer models may be missing entirely.

There are some older models that may be missing from the website dataset or may not be included within specific brand pages. However, a Google Sheets Database is available, containing over 246K+ devices with network support information.

A: For Vodafone, the reason why there is limited or no data ("Unknown" entries) is that at the time of writing, TPG/Vodafone does not have a public device blocking checker tool, even though such a tool is available internally for support staff.

Where there are results for Vodafone, they have been obtained from user reports, SMS 3498 Checker Tool results, or other datasets such as AMTA.

For Telstra, a number of newer models are missing results because Telstra has not added them to their database at the time the TACs were checked.

A: Basically, bad data.

Telcos (Optus & Telstra) appear to use different datasets when sourcing device band support and model name information.

The Optus "Band 28/Coverage Limited" classification data appears to be more accurate, but there are numerous contradictions between telcos for many devices.

If telcos can’t even accurately classify which devices support Band 28, how can we trust their classification of emergency calling support?
The answer: We can't.

A: The dataset Optus uses relies on the device marketing name, whereas Telstra (& AMTA) data uses the device model number/name.

For some devices sold by Telstra, they replaced the model number/name with the marketing name, while other telco or retail variants of the exact same phone (but different TAC) retain only the model number/name.

If Telstra's listing includes a marketing name, it was likely sold by Telstra or through a partnership with the handset manufacturer. However, for some models, this may not be the case.

A: Some devices have been cross-flashed with firmware from other device models and may report a different model than what is displayed in Telstra’s Model Number Data.

Frequently, Chinese models may be flashed with EU or US model software, causing discrepancies between official TAC databases and what users see in settings.

In rare cases, the Telstra database itself may contain incorrect model number mappings. If unsure, check with another online IMEI/TAC checker tool.

A: Some of this discrepancy stems from poor analysis. Particularly if those other variants are Whitelisted by Telstra (Not Blocked).

Additionally, some device TACs listed refer to models that:

• Were never released or do not exist.
• Were not in use or had minimal presence at the time of the shutdown.
• Had variations that were affected differently depending on firmware versions.
  (Though for devices that are also supported on other telcos this indicates a lack of proper analysis, particularly for newer devices)

A: Yes, you can take several actions to help spread awareness and advocate for changes regarding device blocking and the 3G shutdown.

Here’s how you can contribute:

• Sign & share the petition – Support the issue on change.org.
• Watch & share YouTube videos – Look for videos by Hugh Jeffreys, who has discussed this topic in detail.
• Contact your local MP – Raise concerns with your local Member of Parliament (MP).
• File complaints to regulators – Get in touch with the ACCC, ACMA, and the Communications Minister.
• Provide supported device data – If you have verified data on supported devices, you can send this through via email, see here.

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