Telstra 3G network shutdown postponed over inaccessibility of emergency calls

The popular Australian network provider Telstra has postponed the termination of its 3G service for prompting the inability for users to make emergency calls.

Telstra, the 20-year-old Australian telecommunication company, has slated the execution of its 3G service's shutdown rather than observing it on June 30 2024.

Why Telstra has delayed its 3G network shutdown?

If the shutdown would come to effect on its originally scheduled timeline, it will deprive over 200,000 Telstra subscribers of 3G network who are still using 3G-only phones. Given that, the extension of the outage is being undertaken to let users upgrade their smartphones.

The outage might also target a tiny portion of 4G phones, making it the biggest predicament due to the devices configured to default to the 3G network for triple-0 calls.

Read more: One UI 6.1 announced for THESE Samsung devices

"We've decided to extend [the deadline] by two months, mainly due to feedback from customers that some of them need more time to upgrade," Telstra networks executive Channa Seneviratne said.

The federal government of the country last month warned about a million Australians — using Telstra, Optus and TPG networks — to be the victims of the shutdown, however, according to Communications Minister Michelle Rowland, the toll has been reduced to about 400,000.

The minister remarked that the government welcomes Telstra's decision to delay its planned 3G switchover.

A group has also been formed by the government which comprises Telstra, Optus, TPG, and the Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) to report to the minister within 15 days and lead a "safer" 3G shutdown.

Devices to be affected by Telstra shutdown