Interview with Sam Robinson, ABC Riverina

SAM ROBINSON, HOST: You’ve been hearing for some time now the warning that the 3G network will soon be turned off. Telstra is due to switch off 3G on the 31st of next month, that’s August, having extended its original June closure deadline. Optus will shut down 3G from September. There’s been some concern at our part of the world with Optus research identifying Griffith as one of the places with the highest number of incompatible devices. Michelle Rowland is Federal Communications Minister. Minister, good morning.
 
MICHELLE ROWLAND, MINISTER FOR COMMUNICATIONS: Good morning.
 
ROBINSON: Are Australians ready lose their connection to 3G?
 
ROWLAND: I think this is really important for Australians, particularly in regional areas, to be able to get the best quality mobile services because we understand how important they are. This switchover is important because it enables better technologies like 4G and 5G to be deployed, and that means better data capacity, better speed and better capability of networks. We know how important mobile services have become, especially in regional areas. They're not a nice to have, they're absolutely essential. So it's important that this be supported, but it needs to be done in a safer way. There has been substantial progress made but a lot more to do, which is why I have a number of public service announcements for your listeners today, Sam.
 
ROBINSON: Right. Is 31 August too soon to switch off 3G for Telstra?
 
ROWLAND: Telstra actually decided to extend its time frame to September. Vodafone already did its switch over earlier this year. So both Telstra and Optus are due to be switching over at around the same time.
 
ROBINSON: Right.
 
ROWLAND: I think the best way to answer that is in terms of what we see, as a Government, as the most critical issue, and that's access to Triple Zero. Now, there's a subset of handsets that some of your listeners may have that work perfectly fine right now and are able to call Triple Zero. But after the switchover, it means that when they go to dial Triple Zero they actually won't be able to get through. So they're actually 4G handsets. They use 4G for voice and data, so seemed perfectly fine after the switchover. But the manufacturer has actually configured them to use the 3G network for Triple Zero calls. Now, we have been working hard with the industry to identify these handsets. Earlier in the year, the estimated numbers were around 740,000 of these devices out there. We've been working with industry to contact these customers, and I'm pleased to let your listeners know that number has come down to now around 100,000. There's been significant efforts being put in to contact consumers.

But I would really put out this plea to your listeners because, as you said, Griffith has actually been identified as one of the regional areas that could have a large number of these handsets. So what your listeners can do is very simple. Text the number three – so the numeral three – to the number 3498. That's three to 3498, and they will get an instant reply about whether or not their handset is affected. So I urge your listeners to do that now. They should be receiving messages from their mobile operators and it’s time to take action. Please don't leave this to the last minute.
 
ROBINSON: It isn't just handsets though. We know that there's a lot of things like water pumps on properties and medical devices that are linked to 3G. They obviously can't text that number to find out if they're compatible. What about those things?
 
ROWLAND: Well, that's right, there's millions of devices out there that rely on mobile technology. The telcos have been working with industry to identify whether or not they're affected. So again, I would urge your listeners, if they haven't already checked to contact their operator, ensure that they are compatible once the switchover has occurred. And of particular concern, again, are medical devices. There's some medical devices that are linked to the telco network, so they know who they are. But there's also a subset of medical alarms that use 3G SIM cards, but they actually can't be tracked like phones. Again, that's the way these multitude of devices have been configured. So I would urge all of your listeners, the telcos have been getting these messages out through the device companies and through other agencies, but it's really important that people are aware of it.
 
I can give you a personal example. My dad is 92, lives alone and independently, and he contacted me the other day and said: why do I keep getting these letters from my mobile operator and all these texts about my medical alarm? And I said: dad, you have to get upgraded. So it's important that we check on our loved ones. We check our own devices, but don't ignore messages from your mobile operator. It's important to take action now.
 
ROBINSON: I'm speaking this morning to Michelle Rowland on ABC Riverina. She's the Federal Minister for Communications. Minister, will there be subsidies available for those who need to upgrade or some governmental support?
 
ROWLAND: There are some programs that are being put in place by the telcos to support those consumers who mightn't be able to upgrade. And one of the reasons for not upgrading is because of cost in some cases. But the telcos all have now some schemes in place so people can contact them, see if they qualify for that. But I think the important thing here is to do that check. Get that check done so you can see whether or not you're impacted, contact your mobile operator and see what they can do to help you.
 
ROBINSON: Now, we could talk all day about 3G, 4G, 5G. But I know that there's sections of our region where it's hard to find any signal at all, including on the Hume Highway, which is a major road. Do we need to be seeing better upgrades to regional coverage?
 
ROWLAND: There's no doubt that regional Australia is one that is lacking in compatibility compared to metro areas. That digital divide is something that this Government is very focused on in everything from having mobile coverage expansion to working with the states to get better mobile coverage on main highways, but also reviewing our regulatory structures to make sure they're fit for purpose. There is actually a universal service obligation that your listeners might be aware of, but what they mightn't appreciate that this has been relatively unchanged for over a decade. And fundamentally, it is still about providing a voice service through a fixed line.
 
But again, we know how important data is to communities. We know how important adequate broadband is. We know how important mobile services are. So that's why we are reviewing the universal service obligation. We've had very good feedback in that from our regional telecommunications inquiry that's going on right now. Your listeners can also make a contribution to that. That closes on 31 July, but we are very keen to hear specific examples from people, because we know how important it is to bridge that digital divide. And that requires not only government investment, it requires incentives for the telco operators to invest, but it also requires the right regulatory settings to make all that happen.
 
ROBINSON: Yeah, it's so important to be across this. Really appreciate your time this morning, Minister. And I just- I think sometimes it can people in the regions can feel like, you know, there's progress with these switch offs. But we don't want to forget that regional Australia rely on things like 3G for so much.
 
ROWLAND: Absolutely right, and that is a central focus. Above all else, it's about community safety and making sure that people have confidence in Triple Zero and that people in the regions know that they're able to access it when they need it.
 
ROBINSON: Minister, thanks for your time this morning.
 
ROWLAND: Pleasure.