Media release - Further Triple Zero threats as Samsung devices rendered useless – why isn’t the Government doing something?

Melissa McIntosh MP 
Shadow Minister for Communications 
Shadow Minister for Women 
Federal Member for Lindsay

23 October 2025 

Further Triple Zero threats as Samsung devices rendered useless – why isn’t the Government doing something?

Around 50,000 Telstra and Optus customers who have Samsung devices will have their phones rendered useless in 27 days. This is directly due to the closure of the 3G network in October 2024.

More than one year after the 3G network was turned off it has been identified that Telstra and Optus customers who own a Galaxy A7, A5, J1, J3, J5, S6, S7 or Note 5 handset will need to replace their devices. Many other Samsung handsets will need to run a software update to be able to connect to Triple Zero.

When the 3G network was being shut down the Albanese Labor Government issued an Emergency Services Determination to ensure that devices that were not compatible were identified. This has clearly not happened and the fact that we are only finding out about it a year later is further evidence that the 3G network should not have been shut down until all contingencies were managed.

Shadow Communications Minister, Melissa McIntosh MP said, “Telstra and Optus have failed to identify this issue until more than a year after the closure of the 3G network”.

“What have the telcos been doing for a whole year and what has the Government been doing to ensure the safety of Australians who need to call Triple Zero?

“Australians are surprised they may again not be able to call Triple Zero in their greatest time of need.

“It is unfair that the onus is now on customers to replace their handsets.

“The Albanese Labor Government proceeded with the shutdown of the 3G network without ensuring that all issues had been managed. Far too many Australians have been left without phone and internet services and now we see more people having to replace their phones at their own cost.

“The clandestine way in which Telstra and Optus are managing this issue is appalling.

“Where is the Minister and what is the regulator ACMA doing? After the September Triple Zero outage where lives were lost, I expect the Government and telecommunications companies to be taking people’s ability to call Triple Zero far more seriously.

“Once again, we are left with more questions than answers which is unacceptable when the top priority of the Government should be the safety of Australians.

“This is why I have called for a full, thorough and independent investigation into the Triple Zero network ecosystem which the Albanese Government has failed to commit to. They also voted against my call for a House Inquiry and did not support my amendments to strengthen the Triple Zero Custodian legislation.

“The Coalition will be calling for a Senate Inquiry into the Optus Triple Zero network outage and broader issues related to the network. The Australian people deserve better than what this Government is giving them”.