Telstra farewells 2G mobile network

Telstra will switch off its 2G mobile network by the end of 2016.

The network was instrumental in bringing mobile phones to the masses and helping introduce texting, mobile internet and international roaming after it was rolled out more than two decades ago.

But the shift towards faster 3G and 4G networks means 2G now accounts for less than one per cent of Telstra mobile traffic, Mike Wright, the telco's head of networks, said.

"We have not sold a 2G phone for several years," he said in a blog post today.

"In the coming years we expect to see this dwindle further as we continue to invest in our 3G and 4G technology.

"It's time to call a sunset for this world-changing network technology."

Mr Wright said Telstra would help 2G customers move to 3G and 4G technology.

Most people now had phones capable of connecting to 3G networks, he said, but might need to update their SIM card.

Customers on 2G networks see icons such as "2G", "GPRS", "E" or "EDGE" in the top right corner of their devices.

Telstra will likely repurpose the spectrum space used for the 2G network for state-of-the-art 4G technology.