IoT connectivity in Australia
Updated
In Australia, no law we found restricts permanent roaming; mobile operators set the terms. Of the 3 mobile operators we track there, 3 have switched off 2G and 3 3G, as of 26 October 2026. Sources are listed below each table.
Permanent roaming
No law found; set by operators. No regulatory time limit applies, but Telstra treats an IoT roaming service seen in at least 6 months of any rolling 12 months (or meeting account, APN or residency tests) as permanent and may disconnect and ban it after 60 days' notice.
Sources: telstra.com.au, cullen-international.com, help.wirelesslogic.com. Confidence: high.
2G and 3G shutdowns by operator
| Operator | Network | Status | Date | Sources |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Optus | 2G | Switched off | August 2017 | itwire.com, tele.net.in Staged: NT and WA from 3 Apr 2017, other states/ACT in Aug 2017 (iTWire). Tele.net lists Australia's national 2G switch-off as complete by June 2018. No Optus page confirming the final day found (Optus site unreachable). |
| Optus | 3G | Switched off | 28 October 2024 | ia.acs.org.au, amta.org.au Staged switch-off began 28 Oct 2024; AMTA says Optus 3G closed in Nov 2024. WhistleOut (28 Oct 2024) reported small 3G pockets kept where there was no 4G; no later detail found. |
| Telstra | 2G | Switched off | 1 December 2016 | cwu.org.au GSM network switched off on 1 Dec 2016, after more than 20 years of operation (union news item; Telstra primary page not found). |
| Telstra | 3G | Switched off | 28 October 2024 | telstra.com.au, amta.org.au Closure date moved to 28 Oct 2024 (the page's URL still shows an earlier June 2024 plan). Staged closure; AMTA (industry body) says Telstra 3G closed in Nov 2024 (AMTA page dated 2023 but updated after the closure). |
| TPG Telecom (Vodafone) | 2G | Switched off | June 2018 | vodafone.com.au, tele.net.in Vodafone Australia (now TPG Telecom) planned 2G GSM decommissioning on 31 Mar 2018; Tele.net dates Australia's 2G switch-off to June 2018. Exact final day not confirmed by a primary source. |
| TPG Telecom (Vodafone) | 3G | Switched off | January 2024 | whistleout.com.au, amta.org.au Gradual switch-off started 15 Dec 2023 and finished in Jan 2024 (WhistleOut; AMTA: switched off as of Jan 2024). Vodafone Australia is now part of TPG Telecom. |
What it means for IoT devices in Australia
- Do not deploy 2G-only devices: every operator with a known status has switched 2G off.
- 3G is already gone on 3 networks: devices that fall back to 3G will lose service there.
- Private delivery works the same from Australia: device data reaches your cloud over private links. See private delivery.
Other countries in Asia-Pacific
Full tables: permanent roaming rules by country and 2G and 3G shutdown dates.
Frequently asked questions
Is permanent roaming allowed for IoT SIMs in Australia?
No regulatory time limit applies, but Telstra treats an IoT roaming service seen in at least 6 months of any rolling 12 months (or meeting account, APN or residency tests) as permanent and may disconnect and ban it after 60 days' notice.
When is 2G switched off in Australia?
Status by operator, as of 26 October 2026. Optus: switched off (2017-08); TPG Telecom (Vodafone): switched off (2018-06); Telstra: switched off (2016-12-01).
When is 3G switched off in Australia?
Status by operator, as of 26 October 2026. Optus: switched off (2024-10-28); TPG Telecom (Vodafone): switched off (2024-01); Telstra: switched off (2024-10-28).