Vodafone today announce plans to upgrade its mobile network by converting its 3G spectrum to 4G. Initially, Vodafone will repurpose its 2100MHz holding to the newer, faster network technology.
"We are always working to give our customers the best possible network experience. Over recent years we have seen huge changes to the traffic carried on Vodafone’s mobile network," said Tom Joynson, Vodafone General Manager of Access Delivery Networks, Tom Joynson.
"This upgrade work will ensure the 4G network gets a capacity boost, so more of our customers can use their data to stream their favourite content or use social media, while still keeping our 3G network strong. Once the work is complete in each state, we will be delivering even better service to more than 90 per cent of Vodafone’s mobile subscribers across Australian metro areas."
Vodafone has already upgraded its 2100MHz spectrum in the Australia Capital Territory to 4G. Upgrade work in NSW will start on March 18, with Victoria, Queensland, Western Australia, and South Australia to follow throughout 2019.
As a result of the changes, some older devices only compatible with 2100MHz 3G will no longer work after the spectrum is converted 4G. You can check if your device will still work by putting its name into Vodafone's coverage checker. It is however worth noting that devices that weren't originally purchased from Vodafone may not be listed in the coverage checker - especially if they were bought overseas.
Vodafone's 3G isn't going away entirely however; the telco also delivers 3G coverage using the 900MHz spectrum. Read more about Australia network frequencies here.
Telstra made a similar announcement at the end of last year, and intends to shutdown to 3G connectivity on its 2100MHz holding on March 25. As with Vodafone, Telstra also offers 3G on another frequency - 850MHz - so this move should only affect a small number of devices. Telstra has however previously flagged that it intends to turn off its entire 3G network in 2020.
If you're concerned about your 3G smartphone not working anymore, the easiest way is to visit the manufacturer's website and check the device specifications. Make sure you are researching on an Australian website (assuming you bought it in Australia), as it is common for manufacturers to release models with different hardware in different regions.
If you're a Vodafone customer, you'll want to look for 900MHz. If you're a Telstra customer, you're looking for 850MHz. If you don't see these listed as compatible frequencies, you'll need to upgrade your device.
Alex Choros
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