3G connectivity in Audi vehicles

Connected services and Apps in your vehicle may be affected by the shutdown of the 3G network in Australia.

Audi vehicles which come with Audi connect services and Apps rely on an embedded SIM card that connects to a third party mobile telecommunications network in order to deliver those services to the vehicle and enable certain functionality within connected Apps. The embedded SIM cards which were installed in certain later model Audi vehicles specifically rely on connectivity via a 3G mobile network. As you may be aware, the Mobile Network Operators (“MNOs”) which own and operate the 3G mobile networks via which 3G connectivity services are supplied in Australia have now shutdown or are in the process of shutting down their 3G networks.

As a result, if your vehicle’s embedded SIM relies on 3G network connectivity in order to deliver Audi connect services and Apps, you will no longer be able to use those services and Apps in your vehicle. The shutdown of the 3G networks and cessation of this functionality was implemented by the three MNOs in Australia and is beyond Audi’s control.

Audi will continue to make Audi connect services and Apps available for as long as possible in affected vehicles but notes that, once the networks have been closed by the third party MNOs, it will not be possible to do so.

For more information on the 3G network shutdown in Australia, please click here.

Frequently Asked Questions

Later model Audi vehicles manufactured prior to Model Year 2025 that are equipped with a 3G telematics module or with early model 4G telematics modules that rely on a 3G network connection for voice calling are affected

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW92103926 BCX0"> For Audi vehicles with 3G telematic modules, all Connected Services and Apps will soon cease to function (if they have not already).   </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW92103926 BCX0"> For Audi vehicles with early model 4G telematics modules that rely on a 3G network connection for voice calling, the following features will cease (or may already have ceased) to function:   </div> <div class="ListContainerWrapper SCXW92103926 BCX0"> <ul class="BulletListStyle1 SCXW92103926 BCX0" role="list"> <li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW92103926 BCX0" role="listitem" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="10" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="1" data-aria-level="1"> Emergency Call;   </li> </ul> </div> <div class="ListContainerWrapper SCXW92103926 BCX0"> <ul class="BulletListStyle1 SCXW92103926 BCX0" role="list"> <li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW92103926 BCX0" role="listitem" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="10" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="2" data-aria-level="1"> Online Roadside Assistance;   </li> </ul> </div> <div class="ListContainerWrapper SCXW92103926 BCX0"> <ul class="BulletListStyle1 SCXW92103926 BCX0" role="list"> <li class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW92103926 BCX0" role="listitem" data-leveltext="" data-font="Symbol" data-listid="10" data-list-defn-props="{"335552541":1,"335559685":720,"335559991":360,"469769226":"Symbol","469769242":[8226],"469777803":"left","469777804":"","469777815":"hybridMultilevel"}" aria-setsize="-1" data-aria-posinset="3" data-aria-level="1"> Incident Assist Calls   </li> </ul> </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW92103926 BCX0"> Audi connect services on all affected vehicles are no longer able to be purchased or renewed.  </div>

You can find it on the registration document of your Audi.

There is currently no available hardware or software alternatives which extend the functionality beyond the 3G shutdown for affected vehicles.

Frequently Asked Questions: The most important questions and answers about the 3G shutdown in Australia

3G is a mobile network generation currently operated by all Mobile Network Operators (MNOs) in Australia. In many regards, 3G was the foundation of mobile broadband which supports voice and data services.

Mobile networks operate on a physically limited spectrum of radio waves. Once a certain network generation (2G, 3G, etc) has utilised all available spectrums for that service, it is not possible to add any more. MNOs have decided to turn off the 3G network in order to upgrade these spectrums to the faster 5G network.

The Vodafone / TPG Telecom 3G network was shutdown as of January 2024. Telstra’s shutdown of its 3G network was commenced on 28 October 2024 and has now been completed. Optus also commenced the shutdown of its 3G network on 28 October 2024.

Depending on the vehicle model, the SIM card in an Audi vehicle may be connected to either the Vodafone or Telstra mobile network. Vehicles that were connected to the Vodafone network were switched to the Optus network after the Vodafone 3G network shutdown to ensure connectivity remained active for the maximum possible duration. As above, Optus has now also commenced the shutdown of its 3G network.

<div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW145467373 BCX0"> Audi connect functionality requires a mobile network connection. Depending on the age of the vehicle, the pre-fitted SIM card on certain vehicles requires the 3G network for Voice and Data services. Some newer vehicles require the 3G network for Voice services only with Data services operating on the 4G mobile network. For vehicles that require the 3G network for Voice and Data services, the following services will no longer be available once the 3G sunset has occurred: Emergency Call, Online Roadside Assistance and Incident Assist calls.   </div> <div class="OutlineElement Ltr SCXW145467373 BCX0"> For vehicles that require 3G network for Voice services only with Data services operating on the 4G mobile network, the following services will no longer be available once the 3G shutdown has occurred: Emergency Call, Online Roadside Assistance and Incident Assist (if applicable). Compatible mobile devices that utilise 4G or 5G networks connected in the vehicle via Bluetooth® (for compatible vehicles), such as phone pairing should continue to operate as normal. </div>

A hardware or software retrofit to upgrade the vehicle telematics is not available.

3G connectivity in Audi vehicles

Connected services and Apps in your vehicle may be affected by the shutdown of the 3G network in Australia.

Frequently Asked Questions

Which vehicles are affected?

What is the impact to the affected vehicles?

Where can I find my Vehicle Identification Number (VIN)?

Will it be possible to upgrade or change the telematics?

Frequently Asked Questions: The most important questions and answers about the 3G shutdown in Australia

What is 3G?

Why is the 3G mobile network being shut down in Australia?

What are the indicated 3G network shutdown dates for Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone in Australia?

Which Mobile Network Operator does Audi use for Audi connect in its vehicles?

How does the 3G network shutdown affect Audi vehicles?

Can I upgrade my affected vehicle so all services will continue to work after the 3G shutdown?