Approximately 370,000 Australians will be left without the ability to make emergency calls when 3G networks switch over to new technology later this year.
The problem lies in handsets using 4G for voice and data, but configured by the manufacturer to use 3G for triple-0 calls.
The transition from 3G is expected to be complete by September, after Telstra delayed its closure from June 30 to August 31 so people would have more time to transition their devices.
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Optus will also end 3G services in September, while Vodafone and TPG customers have been unable to use the 3G network since December.
The plan to switch off the network was announced in 2019, allowing for increased data and internet speed for 4G and 5G technologies.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland confirmed the number of people still potentially affected on Tuesday morning while speaking to ABC Gippsland.
“What we found out at the beginning of this year was that there were some devices that would be impacted by the change in this switchover,” Rowland said.
“Some of those in particular are a subset of handsets. So, 4G handsets that use 4G for voice and data, but are actually configured by the manufacturer to use 3G for calls to triple-0.
“So, this is the area of concern with these devices because if you’ve got a purely 3G device, an older device, you’ll know from day one that that doesn’t work when the switchover happens, but you won’t know that you can’t dial triple-0 on a 4G device until you actually need it. “
It was estimated earlier this year that about 740,000 people would be impacted, Rowland said.
“So, it’s considerably lowered,” she said. “But it is still an area of great concern.”
‘Shocking’ number still affected
The high number of people still set to be affected by the network switchover was slammed by the federal opposition, who labelled it “shocking”.
“The fact there are still 370,000 4G devices in use that will not be able to make triple-0 calls when 3G is shut down is a shocking indictment on this Minister,” Shadow Communications Minister David Coleman said.
“People were warning the minister a year ago that this was going to be a problem with some 4G phones and yet she claims she only found out about the issue in March this year.
“Senate Estimates heard in recent days that an IT and networking expert had written to the Minister about the problem with some 4G phones in June last year, but he was fobbed off to the department.
“Now, with the 3G network clock counting down to zero in the coming months, the minister is desperately trying to play catch up, with hundreds of thousands of devices still at risk.
“The minister was again today talking about the option of using her powers to delay the switch off. But we wouldn’t be in this situation if the government had actively been dealing with this a year ago when they were warned.”