Medical Devices and Infrastructure at Stake in Telstra and Optus 3G Shutdown

Telstra and Optus have decided not to delay the shutdown of their 3G services despite warnings of potential risks to critical infrastructure, medical equipment, and individual customers. A Telstra spokesperson noted that people had been given five years’ warning of the change. Telstra’s network is scheduled to shut down on Aug. 31, a month later than its original June deadline, while Optus 3G plans to go dark in September. TPG/Vodafone ended its 3G service in January. A Senate inquiry, which examined the potential risks, released an interim report on Aug. 1 recommending that the federal government meet urgently with the telcos to extend the deadlines for an extensive audit of affected devices....