Federal Member for Riverina Michael McCormack is asking Riverina and Central West residents and businesses to check devices that use mobile phone networks as the 3G network shutdown looms.
Mr McCormack said Australians were first notified about the network shutdown in November 2019, but residents may not have checked whether their devices need upgrading.
“We’ve only recently learned of the potentially catastrophic issue that some 740,000 devices may be unable to contact triple zero when access to the 3G network is switched off,” Mr McCormack said.
“These devices include such items as the emergency pendant medical alarms supplied to vulnerable members of our community – the elderly and disabled communities could be at risk.
“Small business operators may need to check their EFTPOS hardware to ensure it will not be affected by the 3G shutdown.
“The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association warned the Government in November last year that some older handsets only use the 3G network and even some newer 4G phones still need to access the 3G network to make triple zero calls.
TPG/Vodafone has already switched off its 3G network. Telstra plans to turn off its 3G service at the end of June with Optus to follow suit later in September.