Optus giving away 20,000 free phones to vulnerable customers
Optus will be giving away 20,000 mobile phones to vulnerable customers ahead of the 3G network shut down.
Following the footsteps of Telstra, who gave out 12,000 mobile phones to their most vulnerable remote and elderly customers last month, Optus will offer thousands of free mobile phones to customers enduring financial hardship and vulnerable customers finding it difficult to replace their current phones.
“We know that many impacted customers are actually using a 4G handset that reverts to 3G for calls, so it’s vital these customers understand the importance of upgrading their handsets when notified,” Optus’ head of new products Harvey Wright said.
Messages have been sent to eligible customers, and the telco giant has also rolled out special deals encouraging Australian's to upgrade.
The move to switch off 3G means that soon certain mobile devices will no longer be able to send texts, make calls, or contact triple-0 in an emergency. A few older 4G handsets will also be affected.
Telstra will turn off their 3G network on August 31, while Optus will turn it off on September 1.
TPG Telecom and Vodafone have already turned it off.
Australia's mobile network operators say that the move will help boost the capacity, speed and reliability of the newer 4G and 5G networks.
The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association (AMTA) have also urged customers to take action to ensure that they stay connected.
“Whether it’s your day-to-day mobile or one you keep in the drawer for an emergency, we encourage you to check all of your devices to ensure they will be supported once Australia’s 3G networks are switched off,” AMTA chief executive Louise Hyland said.
The AMTA suggests that concerned customers should visit their website to find out if their devices will be supported.
“It is important to note that while 3G networks are still in operation, those affected mobile devices will continue to connect to any available 3G network while in coverage, to make emergency calls to triple-0,” Hyland said.
“However, once the 3G networks are fully closed, these phones will not be able to make emergency calls.
“It is crucial to act now if you know you have an older mobile device and you haven’t already upgraded.”
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