Hi Petition Signers,
Now over 7,500 Signatures!
Keep sharing the Petition & this story, lets get it to over 10,000!
The device blocking by Telstra & Optus is now in full force! With Vodafone probably not far behind.
I was personally disconnected from the Optus Network on Friday morning on my 4G VoLTE Capable phone.
I've also discovered that Optus & Telstra are also blocking Officially Supported Phones from their network!
If they didn't sell it directly and think it's 'affected' they are totally blocking the phone from the network. Even if it's running their software.
Based on the Submissions to the Survey Optus is even blocking brand new phones that have been recently purchased at Australian Retail Stores!
Xiaomi - Notice on 3G Shutdown and Network Connection for Xiaomi Devices
Many people have purchased brand new phones just in recent months from Major Retail Stores, and are now totally blocked from all services!
There must be consequences for this behaviour by the providers!
One of the older devices I was planning to use is on both on the Telstra and Optus official support lists.
However, as my particular phone was originally sold by Telstra, it has been blocked from the Optus Network! Even though the phone is Network Unlocked and has Software that's compatible with both networks!
My Provider (amaysim, an Optus MVNO) hasn't unblocked it!
I am sure many of you are also stuck using an old iPhone or cheap phone like I am.
For many of you this may impact your ability to work and earn an income, not to mention the out of pocket costs required to buy yet another new 4G/5G phone.
Within the survey results it's very clear that the the vast majority cannot afford to buy a new phone. Of the over 300 Surveyed, 83% of people said purchasing another suitable device would have either a Moderate or Major Financial impact!
Over 75% of respondents also say they've not been offered a replacement device by their provider! (Let alone one fit-for-purpose or like-for-like!)
This blanket blocking policy is absolutely disgraceful.
The Government, Minister, ACMA, ACCC and Telcos should be utterly ashamed of themselves!
This shutdown process has been negligently managed since day 1 and there are no signs it's going to improve, even despite attempts to get the Minister to see reason.
Even tourists who are supposed to be exempt from these blocking rules are having their devices entirely blocked!
On Monday International Roaming Customers were booted-off the Telstra and Optus Networks, forced on to Vodafone.
That may sound fine, but for many Roamers they could no longer make or receive Roaming Calls on Vodafone's Network. Even worse, when in a regional area with only Telstra coverage they have no service at all!
After the Inquiry it was revealed that Telstra had 2.3 Million International Roaming Devices connected to their network in July, but Telstra was 'unable to confirm the calling capability of the devices'.
The Telcos warned the ACMA they would struggle to exempt travellers from the blocking, but the regulator ignored those concerns and told them to proceed regardless.
The people who designed this policy and signed off on it have absolutely no right to be making these decisions, they clearly have no understanding about how technology actually works!
I attempted to contact the Minister warning about the consequences of this policy on 19 September, but it appears my concerns have fallen on deaf ears.
Only after the shutdown started was a response sent.
A copy of the original letter and the response is below.
MC24-016817 - Minister Rowland Letter - 3G Shutdown Response - Mr Parker - 29 October 2024
Within the letter, signed by the Minister it states that:
"I have made it clear to the industry that I expect devices affected by the 3G switch off to be reliably identified. Telstra, Optus and TPG Telecom have indicated to me that their methodologies have been independently verified as based on sound and established industry practices. That said, my direction to the ACMA would not prevent a customer from engaging with their provider if they consider the service to their handset has been blocked in error."
The industry is not 'reliably identifying' devices, they are blocking perfectly working devices AND Officially Supported devices sold by their competitors!
There is no oversight or transparency with what devices are being blocked and why.
There is no system in place that allows a customer to easily dispute the false device capability claims from the telco.
Requests to have issues escalated with support get sent in circles with no progress.
The Telcos now have complete control of what devices you are allowed to use, where you must purchase them from and what software must be on the device!
I warned the Minister about this very problem nearly 18 months ago, but my concerns ignored.
They telcos simply say, 'oh, well it's not in our list as a supported model, you need to buy a new phone'.
If it's in their block list, they block it, no proof required, completely ignoring that an individual phone actually does work and has made calls on 4G and has called 000 on 4G.
Even with this policy I'm still able to connect to the network with devices that cannot make emergency calls over 4G!
This policy direction is clearly not working properly, so please continue to complain to your Local MP, State Senators, your Telco, the ACCC and the TIO.
If they are flooded with complaints, along with your stories about how you have been mislead & taken advantage of, then we may see change.
The conduct buy the providers is absolutely unconscionable and much of it also seems illegal. It cannot be allowed to continue!
If your device has been recently blocked (or it will be), please make sure you complete the Google Form Survey. The majority of submissions are from people with phones only a few years old!
4G/5G Device Blocking & Capabilities Submission Form
But it's on all of you to continue to make your voices heard and demand better!
An Important Reminder: If your device presently works for VoLTE Calling (hasn't yet been blocked) you should urgently screenshot and screen record it placing Calls on 4G (with and w/o a sim), so you can prove that yes, your device does (or did) work and the telcos are wrong! (Also include your IMEI, IMS Status, and other info to show it can connect to LTE Band 28)
Once it's blocked you won't be able to prove your device ever worked!
How to Check for Working 4G VoLTE Calling on Android Handsets
Regards
James