Forum Discussion

Stephen_2867406's avatar
Stephen_2867406
SMARTY Pioneer
21-03-2025
Solved

Australian calling and coverage

To whom it concerns

I set up my phone for overseas coverage in Australia and New Zealand 

 

it 

qprin Aick

 

 

Network
Roaming
  • Tascha's avatar
    Tascha
    21-03-2025

    Hi Stephen_2867406  Australia has fully switched off 2G and 3G services, meaning only 4G VoLTE/5G-enabled devices will work. Some older or unsupported devices are permanently blocked from the Australian network and will not work at all unfortunately.The Australian regulator mandates that all devices must support VoLTE emergency calls. Devices that cannot be verified for VoLTE emergency calls are blocked from connecting to Australian networks. Many of these blocked devices were never sold in Australia, making this issue more common for visitors.

    You can use Optus' Blocked Device Checker to verify if your device is allowed on the network: https://www.optus.com.au/support/checkdevice

    • Follow the link and enter the first 8 digits of the device IMEI
    • The checker will say if the device will or won’t work in Australia.

     

7 Replies

  • Stephen_2867406's avatar
    Stephen_2867406
    SMARTY Pioneer
    21-03-2025

    To whom it concerns

    As I said I’d have paid oh for overdresscoverage  inv. Australia atyeuyrroeptripertuoretyqpoioetypytuowipweureiwutqptewpoprptworotyottwyrpurqeupooieeqtou

    Stephen_2867406 wrote:

    To whom it concerns

    before I. Left I  set up my phone for overseas coverage in Australia and New Zealand. I have balance on my account  in.  !nz it worked yet.  In Australia. Having been in Perth and now Adelaide it. Is not Working  at. All 

    Why  is. This?g

     also typing. This.  Message has been an absolute ightmare the website. Is clearly. Not. Working with an ipad System

     

    i look forurward to receteiving any help ands understanding 

     

    if there is no coverage .  In Perth AND. Adelaide then let me know asap and if throat is time case I would suggest this is made clear when buying them product 

     

    • Tascha's avatar
      Tascha
      SMARTY Moderator
      21-03-2025

      Hi Stephen_2867406  Australia has fully switched off 2G and 3G services, meaning only 4G VoLTE/5G-enabled devices will work. Some older or unsupported devices are permanently blocked from the Australian network and will not work at all unfortunately.The Australian regulator mandates that all devices must support VoLTE emergency calls. Devices that cannot be verified for VoLTE emergency calls are blocked from connecting to Australian networks. Many of these blocked devices were never sold in Australia, making this issue more common for visitors.

      You can use Optus' Blocked Device Checker to verify if your device is allowed on the network: https://www.optus.com.au/support/checkdevice

      • Follow the link and enter the first 8 digits of the device IMEI
      • The checker will say if the device will or won’t work in Australia.

       

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      21-03-2025

      Stephen_2867406 You are posting on the Community Forum here so we are members like you.

      There has been a particular issue in Australia due to government regulations there subsequent to the turn off of 3G. Certain phones will not work there; it seems, in short,  linked to the phone's ability to use 4G for emergency calls on all networks. I'm no tech expert, but I think it is also linked to the VoLTE protocol that your phone uses.

      In summary, this is not down to Smarty and they have no control over the Australian Government Telecoms Regulations.

      I was there recently and used an international Esim on my phone; this time I used Roamless. Although it does not give direct calls, you can make them via the company's app. if need be; the Esim gives data access and this worked very well as it links to the local networks. I also found it very economical as any unused credit stays on my account for future usage in any of the many countries that they cover.

      There are a number of other suppliers with different models, but it seems to me that most of them are cheaper than paying for usage from account add on.

  • SteveMar_269078's avatar
    SteveMar_269078
    SMARTY Pioneer
    25-05-2025

    Smarty blatantly lie on the coverage in Australia, I did all the checks they suggested,settings and out. Of plan cover all in place, phone worked in Singapore but not Australia, ended up with local sim which worked perfectly. I just had to message friends and family with new temporary number

    • MSF's avatar
      MSF
      SMARTY Guru
      25-05-2025

      SteveMar_269078  There is s specific issue in Australia due to Govt. regulations and nothing to do with Smarty. I suggest a Google search. For future reference, an sim with data for calls via WhatsApp (or similar) may prove easier and cheaper. Worked well for us recently on Roamless.

      • SteveMar_269078's avatar
        SteveMar_269078
        SMARTY Pioneer
        25-05-2025

        That’s the line smarty take, they say check the phone ime number, which I did, it was good. Is it the smarty sim that is against government regulations as it’s not the phoe (because it worked with a different sim) if so how is this nota smarty issue?