About 60,000 handheld devices will no longer be able to make phone calls to emergency services once the country's main telcos turn off their 3G networks in less than two weeks.

Telstra and Optus will officially switch off the network on October 28 after a more than two-month extension period.

Customers are being urged to check their devices are compatible with 4G and 5G networks ahead of the looming shutdown.

Communications Minister Michelle Rowland said the number of affected handsets had dropped substantially from an initial 740,000 which relied on the 3G network.

"The carriers are still in contact with people making sure this public awareness campaign gets as wide as it can," Ms Rowland said.

"If you have got loved ones who may have medical devices or other monitored alarms, please get in touch with them."

Ms Rowland said the switch was critical to ensure the quality of mobile coverage across Australia by relying on the 4G and 5G networks.

"The signal goes further, it has less congestion and it has faster speeds and these are factors that are really important during emergencies."

Coverage fears

Monica Moore from the rural town of Mount Garnet in Far North Queensland is among regional residents who are concerned the 4G network coverage will be inadequate.

She said the lack of mobile coverage already posed a major safety threat during natural disasters.

Ms Moore described a situation in which the local fire service was left without communications during a bushfire because there was no mobile service and UHF radios were inoperable as they relied on line-of-sight.

"It's useless," she said.

Aeroplanes were not able to send through a livestream of the fire from above until they were in service.

"When we're talking bushfires, we all know how fast they can move," Ms Moore said.

She said mobile reliability and coverage became worse with each upgrade.

"3G, even going back to CDMA, that was a lot more reliable."

The Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee inquiry into the 3G shutoff received 46 submissions from community organisations.

"One of the biggest complaints that's being received by mobile services is not just around coverage but it's around quality," Ms Rowland said.

"The way that quality can be delivered is by utilising the spectrum better, and that can be delivered through 4G and 5G."

The committee is due to file a report by February 26.

To see if a device will work after the shutdown, text "3" to the phone number "3498".