🇦🇺 3G network closure - Australia

katoiam · October 27, 2024, 1:27am

Is everyone waiting until tomorrow? Looks like we (fp3) will be barred from the networks thanks to the australian nanny state 000 law!
If you can live without calling, after many hours of painful cyclical conversations with telstra and vodaphone, it seems we can use a data only sim!

Amelia_Bruce · October 27, 2024, 5:06am

Yep, now it’s just a waiting game! But I did just switch from Telstra to Optus, as I was getting messages from Telstra that my phone would be blocked and disconnected on the 28th, not even able to use data (I’m on fp5). Switched to Optus to give me a better chance. Haven’t had any warnings yet. Let’s see!

IainM · October 27, 2024, 6:12am

Yep, switching to Optus is the right way to go.
No one with an FP5 has received messages saying they’ll be disconnected that I’m aware of, even though Optus have been sending such messages to owners of other devices for some weeks now.

Proof will be in the pudding overnight tonight, but FP5s on Optus & Vodafone should be fine.

Sir_Crispy_FP5 · October 27, 2024, 10:01am

Can someone please confirm tomorrow and after 1st of November, if Optus works and or if there are any issues?

I wonder if Optus will follow Telstra in blocking certain mobiles, given the latest legislation to pass, forcing telcos to block phones, regardless of them having the capabilities for using 4G/5G, voLTE, e000 calls.

IainM · October 27, 2024, 10:32am

I’ll try to remember to leave a note tomorrow with my status (FP5 on Vodafone).
Optus are absolutely blocking certain phones as per the legislation. However based on current information, I expect the FP5 will only get blocked when it has a Telstra SIM in it.

The legislation requires phones to meet 2 criteria:

can call 000 via the “home network” of the carrier whose SIM you are using and
can call 000 via the networks of other carriers who provide public carriage services

When you have a Telstra SIM installed, it fails criterion (1) but meets criterion (2), because the FP5 does not have the configuration to allow it to register on Telstra as its “home network”.
When you have a Voda/Optus SIM installed, it has configurations for those networks, so meets criterion 1. It still meets criterion 2, because the procedures for using non-home networks (termed “emergency camp-on”) don’t rely on customized individual carrier configurations.

Sir_Crispy_FP5 · October 27, 2024, 12:43pm

Thank you for explaining that, does make me feel a little better, if when I switch over, likely when.

maxalford · October 27, 2024, 9:21pm

does the fairphone 5 still work after they shutdown the 3G network

urs_lesse · October 27, 2024, 9:47pm

Welcome to the Community Forum. I have moved your question into this topic, you might find some hints in the discussion here, or perhaps some other Australians here can address your question.

Jabarkis · October 27, 2024, 10:58pm

Mine is as of this morning on an Optus provider (Moose).

IainM · October 27, 2024, 11:45pm

Status update as promised: still connected and making calls normally on Felix (Vodafone) using FP5.

Caveat: I’ve not yet seen any evidence of Vodafone commencing blocking of other devices.

katoiam · October 28, 2024, 8:01am

Any one with a fp3 still connected today? I’m blocked and can’t even get data only sims to work🤦

G0ldfish_Jills · October 28, 2024, 8:54am

Hi

I’m using a 3+ on ALDI and unsurprisingly it’s not working now. Would love if people with 5s can keep updating on if their phones working and what networks. I have friends who live in Europe and would love to stay with fairphone if I can

Thanks

Sir_Crispy_FP5 · October 28, 2024, 8:59am

Thanks for the update.

As for me, as predicted Telstra has blocked my SIM.

kbux · October 28, 2024, 9:41am

Fairphone 5 not working on Boost / Telstra today and was happily connected to 4g and 5g yesterday. Telstra says device has been blocked even thought it does support 4g lte and 5g.

Update I just tried a optus sim in my fairphone 5 and it seemed to still work so far. So far its a Telstra issue.

kbux · October 28, 2024, 9:42am

Same @Sir_Crispy_FP5 and previously they said there would be no issue if 4 and 5 g compatible which it is but they have blocked.

bgbs · October 28, 2024, 10:34am

Same here with an FP5 on ALDImobile, I’m so p!ssed off by this blocking despite the FP5 having all the technology required: it supports all the 4G and 5G bands, VoLTE, WiFi.

dt90125 · October 28, 2024, 10:37am

As of this morning (Monday), Telstra have blocked my Fairphone 5G from their network, citing “3G reasons” (their tech support being, ahem, as stellar as usual). I have a visit to the Telstra shop tomorrow, but I suspect this is going to be a Telstra/IMEI thing. I had it online for all of 24 hours.

kbux · October 28, 2024, 10:49am

Same here when we are trying to look after the environment with a eco friendly option and Telstra / government block it.

IainM · October 28, 2024, 10:58am

It has all the required technology except the settings to connect to Telstra’s VoLTE system. Fairphone don’t install those settings on their phones since they don’t support their use outside of Europe, and Telstra are an Australia-only network.

Even if the IMEI block didn’t exist, your FP5 won’t work with Telstra once 3G is shut down.

There is nothing Telstra can do to change that. We just have to change to Optus/Vodafone, that’s all there is to do.

Amelia_Bruce · October 28, 2024, 11:08am

So Im on FP5 and switched to Optus on Saturday (from Telstra) - and my phone is still working today! But, I keep getting messages from Telstra telling me my phone is being blocked. I think this is because I am still on a list of incompatible Telstra devices that hasn’t been updated since I switched over.

Ive also texted 3498 since switching to Optus,but get a ‘as of 18 Oct your device is not a mobile phone’. So there is definitely a delay in porting over my Sim to Optus.