Telstra Warns Older iPhones May Be Unable to Connect to Triple Zero
Telstra has issued a warning to its customers, alerting them to a potential issue with their mobile network. The telco has discovered a network problem that is preventing some older Apple devices, specifically the iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X, from connecting to its network, including the critical Triple Zero (000) emergency service.
The issue arises when these devices are updated to the iOS 16.7.13 software. Some users have reported being without network access for hours, with their phones going straight to voicemail when attempting to make or receive calls.
Telstra is working closely with Apple to resolve this issue, urging customers to delay software updates until the problem is fixed. The federal government has also acknowledged the urgency of the situation, emphasizing the importance of public safety and communication during emergencies.
This incident has sparked concerns about the reliability of emergency services, especially after a major Optus outage last year, which resulted in three deaths and is currently under coronial investigation. Apple has previously advised that software updates would be available to address such issues in future network outages, but the current problem highlights the ongoing challenges in ensuring seamless emergency communication for iPhone users.