Samsung phone users are facing a critical issue that may prevent them from connecting to triple-0 emergency services. Testing conducted by Telstra has revealed that 71 older Samsung mobile devices are unable to connect to the Vodafone network when Telstra and Optus services are unavailable.

Telstra has identified that 11 specific Samsung models need to be replaced entirely, while approximately 60 others require urgent software updates to resolve the connectivity problem. The affected models include the Galaxy A7 (2017), Galaxy A5 (2017), Galaxy J1 (2016), Galaxy J3 (2016), Galaxy J5 (2017), Galaxy Note 5, Galaxy S6, Galaxy S6 edge, Galaxy S6 Edge+, Galaxy S7, and Galaxy S7 Edge.

Customers whose devices are impacted will receive notifications from Telstra via email or text message, outlining the necessary steps to take. Those with phones that need replacement face the risk of having their devices blocked from the network within the next month if they do not act promptly.

This situation raises significant safety concerns, as users may find themselves unable to reach emergency services during critical situations. The warning follows a recent incident where over 600 triple-0 calls from Optus customers failed to connect in various regions, including South Australia, the Northern Territory, Western Australia, and parts of New South Wales. This outage, attributed to a firewall update, lasted more than 12 hours and has been linked to three fatalities.

Telstra has clarified that the issue does not originate from its network, stating, "For the avoidance of doubt, this isn’t an issue on our end and these devices still work perfectly fine on our network." The company has taken steps to notify Samsung and other telecommunications providers about the discovered flaw.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has been informed of the situation and is currently gathering information to assess compliance with regulations regarding emergency call capabilities. The ACMA has emphasized the importance of ensuring that customers are notified when their devices cannot connect to emergency services.

Consumer advocates have raised concerns about the implications for vulnerable individuals who may struggle to afford new devices. Carol Bennett, CEO of the consumer group ACCAN, questioned why the issue was only identified now and called for more proactive measures from telecommunications regulators.

In response to the situation, the government has reiterated that telecommunications companies are required to ensure access to triple-0, including during network outages. A spokesperson for the government stated that the ACMA and telcos are responsible for device testing and compliance.

As the situation develops, both Telstra and Optus have committed to providing support for affected customers, while Samsung is working with its carrier partners to ensure that all devices operate reliably in emergencies. The urgency of this matter highlights the critical need for effective communication and swift action to protect consumers' access to emergency services.