Apple watch 4 needing to upgrade due to 3g being shutdown

I think I may have some information. First of all, some explanation of the terms:

3G == UMTS

4G == LTE

We can use the terms interchangeably.

All Apple watches (since Series 3) have been sold since around 2018 with an optional cellular radio in them - and these watches "support 3G and 4G". Even the series 9 supports 3G and 4G (no 5G support).

Saying that something "supports 3G/4G" is too vague, and we should be referring to the complete list of radio bands within that spec. E.g. UMTS 800MHz, 850MHz, 1700MHz and 1900MHz. When Telstra says they are switching off 3G (aka UMTS) it means that the 3G radio in your watch will stop receiving a signal on those bands. The LTE radio is still there and will be used. However .. and here is the catch. The older watches didn't support as many LTE bands as what Telstra are using today. Look at the Apple spec for the Series 9 watch. That model supports more LTE bands, hence, why Telstra says you'll have a better experience, than with a Series 4 watch that only has a subset. You might be lucky that where you live/work/roam, you'll have no problems with your Series 4 watch. But Telstra is telling you that you might roam into a city/area where they use an LTE band that your old watch does not support.

What LTE bands does the Series 4 support? According to GSM Arena:

1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 18, 19, 20, 26 - Europe, Australia

What LTE bands does Telstra use in its LTE radio access network?

It depends on which AU state/territory you're in

OzTowers.com.au, Mobile phone bands used in Australia. Telstra, Optus, Vodafone, NBN. 2G, 3G, 4G.

I don't know how trustworthy these websites are ... but in my estimation, bands 28 and 40 are the missing ones.

Something along those lines...

I received the same letter and subsequent phone call with Telstra shows they have little if any help in providing decent guidance.

There is probably better support on Whirlpool.

I have been continually receiving these messages from Telstra. I went in to the Telstra Shop in Woden ACT with the letter and they told me if I have a reasonably modern phone that the watch will work (as it works through your phone connectivity anyway) and nothing needs to be done. So why do Telstra continually send me letters and mail messages???

The IOS app "Aus Phone Towers" will tell you which 4G frequencies are available on that tower. Its shows the towers on a map so you can then look at what 4G (and 5G) bands are on that tower by telco...

It also shows you the 'coverage' of the tower.

Here's the frequencies that correspond to the bands mentioned above.

Hope that is useful,

Ian B (VK3IJB)

Telstra's main 4G frequency band is 700Mhz (B28) - which isn't supported on the Apple Watch 4 Cellular

Telstra has a page which provides the info you are after : https://www.telstra.com.au/support/mobiles-devices/3g-closure#watches

It is if users are trying

to understand the compatibility of their devices.

The OP was here because of the Telco’s lack of useful info. Paling them back there when they haven’t been of any assistance isn’t helpful.

Maybe you are using 3G

Apple Watch Series 4 - Technical Specifications - Apple Support

"LTE and UMTS"

Where UMTS is:

Universal Mobile Telecommunications Service (UMTS) refers to a group of radio technologies associated with the third generation of cellular networks (3G).

Talk with your carrier. They are the ones providing the eSIM for your Apple Watch.

davin165 wrote:

I just got the following message from Telstra in Australia

We're following up again to remind you your smart watch listed below does not support our main 4G mobile coverage frequency band.

Once we turn off 3G, you may still be able to use data or make voice calls using the cellular feature on your smart watch, but the service may work intermittently. 

Device:  Apple Watch Series 4 (44 mm)

Does anyone know what "service may work intermittently" means or why? I thought the Apple Watch uses 4G?

Talk to Telstra.

TheCannulator wrote:

I received the same letter and subsequent phone call with Telstra shows they have little if any help in providing decent guidance.

There is probably better support on Whirlpool.

this has nothing to do with Apple, Telstra is who the OP needs to work it out with.

Nothing we user can do to help.

I went in to Telstra today regarding the emails received and the need to do something about my Series 5 watch. They said if I have a modern iPhone that is using 5G and is hooked up to my watch I don't need to do anything, it will happen automatically. I asked why I was continually getting letters from Telstra and the guy said they just send them out to everyone. I have had pretty appalling service from that Telstra shop previously, so I'm not sure what to believe. Just went in there as I was passing. May find another Telstra store and ask again.

For searching towers and their frequencies, use https://www.rfnsa.com.au/ - Radio Frequency National Site Archive

(site is managed by Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA)).

My son has an Apple Watch 4 Cellular and have found some towers will support 4G on the supported bands with Telstra, while others don't. That's where the coverage may be limited when using the watch without paired iPhone.

Hi everyone,

Would someone please also take a look at this and confirm for me??

Telstra main use is Band 3 and Band 28 in 4G (LTE) according to the information in the above post.

However, even Series 9 Apple Watch does NOT support Band 28.

If this is the case, what's the point of upgrading the Apple Watch even to the latest series??

We will still have the same problem?!

So far, useless.

TheCannulator wrote:

So far, useless.

Sorry, not an Apple issue...

Thanks for taking the time with a helpful answer.