In 2024 Telstra will close its 3G network and concentrate on 4G and 5G.

I'll not go into all the technical stuff but rather simply say that if you are buying a new mobile phone *ensure* it supports "VoLTE" (Voice over LTE) otherwise you will not be able to make phone calls after the 3G network closes - the phone will still work for data but not for voice.

I imagine that most new mobiles these days will support VoLTE but *check* - my current ZTE Blade 7+ which I bought about three years past does not so I'm up for a new phone in the next year or so.

I have also heard that although 2024 is the final shut down date Telstra are already closing 3G cells for conversion to 5G so 3G coverage will become patchy over the next couple of years.