A new web-based tool dubbed ‘Check my Device’ will help farmers determine if their mobile device will be supported after the 3G network closure
The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) has released its Check my Device web-based tool, available to all Australians, on any mobile network.
Found on the website, www.3Gclosure.com.au, the tool can help farmers facing connectivity issues check if their mobile device will be supported after the fast-approaching 3G network shutdown.
Vodafone and TPG were the first to close their 3G networks in January 2024, while Telstra will complete its closure on August 31, and Optus will mark the final shutdown in September.
With AMTA’s website tool, farmers will be able to quickly find out if they need a replacement device or upgrade, in order to stay connected to the 4G and 5G networks.
The tool works by using a mobile phone’s International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number, a unique 15-digit code which identifies the make and model of a mobile device, to see if it will be supported after the shutdown.
Check my Device provides steps on how to source the IMEI number of the mobile device by entering *#06# into the phone’s keypad. After entering their IMEI number, users receive one of two responses – ok or check.
If prompted with ‘ok’, no further action is required, as the mobile phone will be fully supported after the network closures. If users receive a ‘check’ response, AMTA says they should contact their service provider to see if they need a replacement or upgrade.
“It’s crucial to act now if you know you have an older mobile device that connects to a 3G network, and you have not already upgraded,” AMTA CEO Louise Hyland says.
“Devices that use the 3G network for voice services will not be able to make any calls, including emergency calls to triple zero, once Australia’s 3G networks are fully inactive.”
Hyland adds that there are also certain 4G-compatible devices that will be affected by the network shutdown, so the web-based tool will come in handy, acting as an extra check.
With Telstra and Optus’ 3G networks currently still in operation, devices affected by the shutdown will continue to work and make emergency calls, but Hyland says device owners must be careful not to forget that these devices will no longer be able to make calls after the shutdown.
“It is crucial to act now if you know you have an older mobile device and you haven’t already upgraded,” Hyland says.
Australian farmers are among those who are likely to be most affected by the 3G shutdown, due to safety issues such as not being able to make emergency calls from remote areas.
NSW Farmers rural affairs committee chair Deb Charlton adds that one of the biggest problems farmers are finding is identifying everything on their farm that relies on the network.
“There are still a lot of things operating under this network that will be effected by the shutdown, including water monitoring systems, fuel systems and remote diagnostics in tractors,” she says.
While there is no quick and easy solution for checking farm machinery’s compatibility, Hyland says Check my Device will allow farmers to take at least one necessary step to check if they will still be connected after the shutdown.
“We recognise that this transition may pose difficulties for some users, particularly in regional and remote communities,” she says.
“We urge Australians to act now to ensure they are taking the necessary steps to stay connected.”
Using Check my Device before making a new phone purchase is recommended by AMTA, as some ‘grey-import’ devices will not be able to make emergency calls after the shutdown.
“Ask the seller for the IMEI number of the device you are considering purchasing,” AMTA says.
“We also recommend that consumers check to ensure that the device isn’t blocked before purchasing.”
AMTA encourages those with affected or old devices to dispose of them through MobileMuster, the official recycling scheme of the Australian mobile industry.
To use the Check my Device tool, visit www.amta.org.au/3g-closure/check-my-device/
Telstra, Optus, Vodafone and TPG users can also text ‘3’ to ‘3498’ to check if their device is supported after 3G closes.
For more information about the closure of the 3G networks, head to www.3Gclosure.com.au, or the website of your mobile network operator.
