The Impact of the 3G Network Shutdown on Your GPS Tracker

Old networks don’t last forever.

Telstra, Optus & Vodafone switched off their 3G networks in Australia in late 2024.

If your GPS tracker relied on 3G to send its location data, it’s now a paperweight.

Here’s what the shutdown means for your tracker and what to do about it.

Understanding 3G and 4G Networks

First, a quick refresher on the difference between 3G and 4G.

The 3G network arrived in the early 2000s and was a big step up from 2G. By today’s standards, though, it’s slow and outdated next to 4G & 5G.

4G is faster, handles more data, and is what most devices, GPS trackers included, run on now.

But plenty of older GPS trackers were built for 3G only (and some even for 2G!)

Telstra and the 4G Network

Telstra runs the biggest mobile network in the country, and it shut its 3G network down in late 2024 to focus on 4G and 5G.

The Solid GPS tracker runs on the Telstra 4G network (with Vodafone as backup), so it sailed through the shutdown without missing a beat.

The Impact of 3G Network Shutdown

The 3G spectrum was freed up for newer, faster networks.

Fair enough, but it meant any device that relied on 3G, GPS trackers included, needed to be replaced to keep working.

Here’s what the shutdown meant for GPS tracker users:

• Loss of Connectivity: A 3G-only tracker can’t transmit data anymore. No signal, no tracking.
• Limited Coverage: During the wind-down, 3G coverage shrank patch by patch until it disappeared entirely.
• Compatibility Issues: Older 3G-only trackers can’t be patched to 4G, the hardware has to be replaced.

The Need to Upgrade GPS Trackers

If your tracker died with 3G, the fix is simple: a new device on a current network, so you keep the benefits of GPS tracking.

Two things to check before you buy:

• Pick a 4G Device: A tracker built for 4G will outlast the next network cull.
• Check Network Compatibility: Make sure it supports Australian bands and carriers, plenty of cheap imports don’t.

Why is Solid GPS a Must-Have?

Solid GPS trackers were built on 4G from day one, so the 3G shutdown never touched them.

Solid GPS trackers run on both the Telstra and Vodafone 4G networks, so your tracking keeps working long after the old networks are gone.

Here’s why Solid GPS trackers stand out:

• 4G Connectivity: Faster updates and wider coverage than anything 3G could manage.
• Comprehensive Features: Real-time tracking, geofencing, and instant alerts out of the box.
• User-Friendly Platform: A dashboard you can check from anywhere, with no manual to read.
• Reliability and Durability: Rugged enclosures built to cop Aussie weather.

Conclusion

The 3G shutdown stung if your tracker relied on it, but it’s the same story every network generation, and it won’t be the last time.

5G will bring faster updates and better accuracy in time, and one day it’ll push 4G out the same door.

Upgrade to a tracker built for current networks and you get reliable and accurate GPS tracking without having to think about this again.

Sources:
https://www.acma.gov.au/sites/default/files/2026-02/Trends%20and%20developments%20in%20telecommunications%202024-25.pdf
https://insights.opensignal.com/reports/2025/04/australia/mobile-network-experience
https://linxio.com/3g-network-shutdown-and-vehicle-tracking/
https://linxio.com/how-to-spot-that-your-gps-tracking-system-is-outdated/