Telstra and Optus 3G Shutdown Puts Medical Devices and Infrastructure at Risk
Customers have had plenty of time to prepare, Telstra said.
Telstra and Optus have decided not to delay the shutdown of their 3G services despite warnings of potential risks to critical infrastructure, medical equipment, and individual customers.
A Telstra spokesperson noted that people had been given five years’ warning of the change.
Telstra’s network is scheduled to shut down on Aug. 31, a month later than its original June deadline, while Optus 3G plans to go dark in September. TPG/Vodafone ended its 3G service in January.
If the telcos reject this recommendation, they may face a declaration prohibiting the 3G closure until the Minister for Communications is satisfied that 4G coverage is equivalent to that of the older network and that a proper audit has been carried out.
The inquiry revealed that many customers might not realize their devices relied on 3G—not just mobile phones but also critical medical equipment, such as cardiac monitors and medical alarms, fire alarms, EFTPOS machines, and even waste and water infrastructure.
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