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drcongo

Why would an outdated OS prevent emergency calls specifically?

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Some handsets do not connect to secondary networks for emergency calls without the update that fixes the problem.

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-10-22/samsung-mobile-device...

This is explained if you click through the link to the Samsung post about this issue.

> Australian mobile operators and Samsung have identified a number of older mobile devices that will not correctly connect to an alternative mobile network to make Triple Zero calls when the customer’s primary mobile network is unavailable. These devices need to be updated or replaced to make sure they work reliably in an emergency.

If the OS doesn't recognise it as an emergency number then it may fail the call if it believes that whatever network it is associated with won't connect it ("No service" vs "Emergency calls only" indicators etc if you are out of coverage from your SIM's network but within range of other networks).

Emergency calling is supposed to work over any network (even without a SIM card inserted, much less an activated, registered, associated one), but only if the OS tries to dial it as an emergency call.

But this wasn't a new emergency number.

It's not about the "age" of the number at all, devices are mandated to try all available networks when it is a recognized emergency number. In this case, even though the number was indeed a device-recognized emergency number, it failed to try all available networks as mandated. The article mentions Triple Zero several times, but not because that is specifically noteworthy beyond it being the typical emergency number.

For example if your phone only makes emergency calls over 3G and the carrier shuts down 3G, then you will be unable to make emergency calls anymore.

What happens if I don’t act?

Under the Government’s Emergency Service Call Determination, all mobile network operators are required to block devices from their networks that are not configured to access emergency call services. If your device is on the list of impacted devices, you will have 28 days from when we notify you to update the software or replace your device to stay connected to the Telstra network. After this time, the device will be blocked from accessing all Australian mobile networks.

Can I still use my phone on my home Wi-Fi after it is blocked?

Yes. Your phone can connect to a Wi-Fi network for data purposes only. However, blocked devices won’t be able to make or receive voice calls over Wi-Fi, including emergency calls, or send and receive SMS.

https://www.telstra.com.au/exchange/older-mobile-devices-cal...

Emergency calls often aren't just normal phone calls. At least in the US, they're required to transmit their location to the operator, and this is the case in many other countries as well. I doubt the technologies are standardized.

It would be surprising if location transmission failure led to complete call failure. You'd think that it ought to fall back to just making a regular phone call.

I remember an old Android crashed or something. Maybe it still carried that bug?

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