❓ Hon Wilson Tucker questions the Minister for Regional Development regarding the impact of the 3G network shutdown on regional WA residents and the government's support for affected communities. The Minister's response highlights federal responsibility and carrier commitments to 4G/5G coverage.
AnsweredQoN 246Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
TELECOMMUNICATIONS —
3G NETWORK
246. Hon WILSON TUCKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Regional Development:
I refer to the imminent shutdown of
3G services in Australia and I note the not insignificant difference between 3G
and 4G network coverage across regional Western Australia.
(1) Does the
minister know or have an estimate of how many residents of regional Western Australia
will be impacted?
(2) What support
is the government providing to impacted communities?
3G NETWORK
246. Hon WILSON TUCKER to the parliamentary secretary
representing the Minister for Regional Development:
I refer to the imminent shutdown of
3G services in Australia and I note the not insignificant difference between 3G
and 4G network coverage across regional Western Australia.
(1) Does the
minister know or have an estimate of how many residents of regional Western Australia
will be impacted?
(2) What support
is the government providing to impacted communities?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for some notice
of the question. The following answer has been provided by the Minister for
Regional Development.
(1) Telecommunications
is primarily the responsibility of the Australian government. TPG/Vodafone commenced switching off its 3G network on 15 December
2023. Telstra will commence switching off 3G from 30 June 2024, and Optus from September 2024. Carriers have
committed to providing 4G, and in some areas 5G, to replicate their current 3G
footprints in metropolitan and regional Australia as closely as possible.
(2) Given carrier
commitments, it is uncertain whether and/or which regional communities will be
impacted by the change, noting it has been communicated across Australia by the
carriers over several years. The Cook Labor government continues to co-invest with
the Australian government and carriers to improve digital connectivity and
address mobile network blackspot and resilience issues across regional, rural
and remote Western Australia.
of the question. The following answer has been provided by the Minister for
Regional Development.
(1) Telecommunications
is primarily the responsibility of the Australian government. TPG/Vodafone commenced switching off its 3G network on 15 December
2023. Telstra will commence switching off 3G from 30 June 2024, and Optus from September 2024. Carriers have
committed to providing 4G, and in some areas 5G, to replicate their current 3G
footprints in metropolitan and regional Australia as closely as possible.
(2) Given carrier
commitments, it is uncertain whether and/or which regional communities will be
impacted by the change, noting it has been communicated across Australia by the
carriers over several years. The Cook Labor government continues to co-invest with
the Australian government and carriers to improve digital connectivity and
address mobile network blackspot and resilience issues across regional, rural
and remote Western Australia.
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