Even though 3G networks only just shut down recently, we’ve already been getting questions about how much longer 4G will be around for. Whether it’s okay to buy a device that doesn’t have 5G connectivity. In short, there is nothing to worry about yet.
There’s no official timeline for when Australia’s 4G networks will be shut down. It is likely this won't be a concern for close to a decade. But as conversations move to 6G, we’ll take a look at what a 4G shutdown might mean.
When will Australia's 4G networks be shut down?
Any real talk of shutting down Australia's 4G networks is still years away, and it isn't something network operators are currently planning.
A Telstra spokesperson told WhistleOut, "Telstra has no plans to close our 4G network. It remains a critical part of our mobile network and will continue to support customers across Australia for many years to come."
Similarly, a Vodafone spokesperson said, "There is no timeline on a future 4G shutdown. 4G is an important part of our network, and this will be the case for years to come. We're still a long way off. Our immediate priority is delivering the full potential of 5G for our customers."
If we look to the previous patterns, we saw 3G networks shut down five years after 5G was launched. 6G connectivity looks to take the stage sometime around 2030 by current estimates. If that pattern follows, a 4G shutdown wouldn't be on the cards until around 2035.
Shutdowns have always been progressive, with each mobile network operator following its own schedule. For example, the 2G shutdown occurred over a number of years from 2016 to 2018.
Is it still okay to buy a 4G phone?
Yes, for the time being, it's still perfectly okay to buy a 4G-only phone to pair with a phone plan. While the majority of new phones have 5G connectivity, if you don't have one, you won't need to consider upgrading for a good while.
Here are some 4G phone plans:
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OnePass mobile
28 Day Plan - 22GB
$12.50
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Lyca Mobile
Editor's Pick
Unlimited Plan S
$15.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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iiNet
30GB Small Plan
$15.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
Link not supplied
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TPG
Editor's Pick
30GB Small Plan
$15.00
Per 1 Month Renewal
Link not supplied
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Kogan Mobile
Small Monthly Plan
$23.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
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Yomojo
Starter 29GB Plan
$24.90
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Lebara Mobile
$25 SIM Plan
$25.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Everyday Mobile
Pre-paid Mobile $25 Recharge
$25.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Coles Mobile
Prepaid $25 for 28 Days
$25.00
Per 28 Day Renewal
Link not supplied
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Superloop
SuperSim Saver 4G Plan
$25.00
Per 30 Day Renewal
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5G NSA vs. 5G SA
If you are interested in future-proofing any smartphone purchase, there is one small wrinkle to be aware of: 5G non-standalone (5G NSA) and 5G standalone (5G SA).
5G NSA is a standard designed to work together with 4G networks. Providers rolling out their 5G networks started with 5G NSA, and they are now progressively updating their networks to 5G SA to remove any 4G dependency.
5G devices that only support 5G NSA will still have access to existing 5G coverage, but they won't connect to new 5G SA areas and instead will default to using 4G in those areas.
The iPhone 14, Samsung Galaxy S21, Google Pixel 7, and newer devices are all 5G SA compatible. Even cheaper phones with 5G tend to support both types these days. In the event that a 4G shutdown does arise, you'd need to upgrade from a 5G NSA device to one that is 5G SA-enabled.
Why shut down 4G networks?
To explain why 4G networks will eventually need to shut down, we need to talk about physics. The electromagnetic spectrum is divided into seven bands from low to high frequencies and includes everything from X-rays, visible light and radio waves.
It's these radio waves, specifically the part we call "spectrum", that powers telecommunications networks. It's measured in megahertz bands, like 700MHz or 3,500MHz. Spectrum is a natural resource, but it's fixed.
Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) like Telstra, Optus and Vodafone buy access to "lots" of spectrum. They use those bands to transmit communications on their network, but once a band is full — it's full. As telcos move to better technologies like 6G, they'll run into the issue that there's no spectrum left. What they have to do is redistribute their available spectrum by reducing 4G services. This is what happened recently with 3G, 2G, and 1G before it. The 3G network shutdown allowed MNOs to repurpose that spectrum for 5G.
One way to wrap your head around it is to think of the spectrum like renting a plot of land. You can choose what you build on the land and how you allocate resources, but you can't build outside of your plot.
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Dylan Crismale
Digital Content Editor
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