PSA: You may not be able to utilise Aussie SIM cards for your phones starting Nov 1.

[chooyoshi]

PSA ALERT

From November 1st, Aussie telcos are mandated to block any device deemed "incompatible" with dialling emergency calls over VOLTE from their network, including voice, data and calls (since 3G is currently in the process of shutting down).

In other words, there is a chance that purchasing tourist SIM cards may no longer work! (particuarly if you use a phone brand not sold there, e.g. Vivo, Sharp, Sony, Honor)... SO MAKE SURE that after getting your SIM card in Australia, make sure your device isn't auto-blocked!

Not to mention the system for determining compatibility is inaccurate, thus some phones may be blocked wrongly.

While roaming circumvents this problem, there is still a chance voice calls may not go through within AU, even if your phone supports volte locally.

Thus, the best solution right now is to buy a phone in AU to use with your AU SIM. (so that you can receive/make phone calls when necessary, you can hotspot it to your local phone). The airport counters should stock some options, but you will have more options in town, from shops like JB Hifi, Officeworks and Harvey Norman. (prices start from 99AUD for a smartphone, but IMO try and budget at least 200+ AUD for a decent experience.)

Obviously, don't forget to bring it with you next trip, until something is done about the block at least.

Source: (Poster has testified many times to AU govt about the dangers of 3G shutdown to no avail).

This forum has "on the ground" info on the 3G shutdown, worth paying attention to.

 

[chooyoshi]

If your'e travelling to Australia from Nov 1 and are able to successfully get a local Aussie SIM card working on your particular phone model, make it known here!

 

[beano]

As long your phone is unlocked, it should work.

Anyway, nowadays the goto would be eSIM, works on most phones.

 

[dilphinus]

Use this website, key in your phone's IMEI to check if your device is affected or not.

https://amta.org.au/3g-closure-old/check-my-device/

 

[dilphinus]

As long your phone is unlocked, it should work.

Anyway, nowadays the goto would be eSIM, works on most phones.

Most rural areas are on 3G and 4G doesn't reach the remote/rural areas.

Anyway, will see.

Am moving back to Australia in January and we are pretty rural.

 

[beano]

If you're very rural, you should probably do Telstra only.

Check the mobile coverage in the area you'll be in

 

[dilphinus]

If you're very rural, you should probably do Telstra only.

Check the mobile coverage in the area you'll be in

We are on Vodafone, Optus and landline.

Simba has worked well as well.

At home, just use wifi. Not like there's anyone calling me from within Australia also.

 

[rrr2015]

https://www.optus.com.au/support/mobiles-tablets-wearables/important-changes-3g#devices

https://www.telstra.com.au/support/mobiles-devices/3g-closure

https://www.vodafone.com.au/support...DtPtWDe5sHdRsVw1CiIuJRXmjVYC1hwJDekDhk9GUF15F

 

[chooyoshi]

If you're very rural, you should probably do Telstra only.

Check the mobile coverage in the area you'll be in

The problem is that telstra's volte is far more closed than optus and vodafone's, so it may not work on your device

 

[chooyoshi]

 

[beano]

If it's really the case, that's australia for you.

But i think nowdays, most ppl just buy eSIM with data

 

[chooyoshi]

If it's really the case, that's australia for you.

But i think nowdays, most ppl just buy eSIM with data

Esim might still be blocked

 

[beano]

Esim might still be blocked

Worse case scenario would be buy those external roaming SIM, like holafly, bytesim etc. Or use your SG telco roaming.

 

[chooyoshi]

 

[beano]

Guess what, we have giga SIM and it stopped working, can't even get it to register with any network..

 

[beano]

Heads up to those travelling to Australia.. to be honest, i'm not sure if your local SIM even will work for roaming and they have no clue what's going on.

I'm hearing from multiple users that use SG telco sim, not being able to register to the network here.

Tried contacting my carrier but to no avail, other users who contacted their providers also had no idea what's going on.

Some suggested having the SIM cards swapped out, not sure how that will help.

 

[dilphinus]

Using Simba with Vivo X100. Works ok in Australia.

My husband is using Vodafone on his Huawei 10. Works ok too.

 

[beano]

Using Simba with Vivo X100. Works ok in Australia.

My husband is using Vodafone on his Huawei 10. Works ok too.

Thanks, will likely change to Eight or Simba..

 

[josephsbs]

We are travelling to Gold Coast this June and also having the headache of handsets not compatible with Australian Telco's network.
Searched around and bumped into a few useful sites, tot it'll benefit many other who are travelling to Oz land too
p/s: use at your own risk

Quoted:

"New rules were introduced on 28 October 2024 by the Australian Federal Government mandating that Australian telecommunication network providers need to block devices that can’t call Triple Zero (000) over 4G using VoLTE. This means that identified incompatible devices will be blocked from the Optus network and will not be able to make or receive calls/texts or use data on the Optus mobile network."​

Some sites to check for phone compatibility (using phone's IMEI nos.
Australian Mobile Telecommunication Association (AMTA)

https://amta.org.au/3g-closure-old/check-my-device/​

Telstra

https://www.telstrawholesale.com.au/3G-Network-Closure-Blocked-Devices-Checker.html​

Boost (using Telstra network)

https://www.boostmobile.com/check-compatibility​

Optus

https://www.optus.com.au/support/checkdevice​

Vodafone

Couldn't find from Vodafone site.​

Interestingly, when I check for "Redmi 12 5G"...
... AMTA says "Please contact your service provider or handset vendor"
... Optus says "the REDMI 12 device is blocked"
... Telstra says "Good news – this phone is not blocked."

 

[beano]

Generally, if your phone is main stream phones, it will work.