The Tragic Cost of Outdated Telecom Software

A TPG Telecom customer in Sydney died after being unable to connect with emergency services due to outdated software on their Samsung phone. The incident follows previous outages at Optus, highlighting concerns over emergency service access. Regulatory bodies are investigating potential breaches in service standards.

A customer of TPG Telecom in Sydney has died after their Samsung mobile phone, running outdated software, failed to connect with emergency services. TPG, Australia's third-largest telecom company, confirmed that its network was operational at the time, dismissing the possibility of a network outage as the cause.

This incident surfaces amid heightened scrutiny towards telecom providers after Optus, another major carrier, faced two consecutive emergency call outages, resulting in four deaths and prompting a parliamentary inquiry. These issues have intensified demands for telecom companies to ensure uninterrupted access to emergency numbers.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority is investigating whether Triple Zero regulations were violated. Meanwhile, customers with older Samsung devices have been advised to update their software to avoid similar connectivity issues in emergencies. This situation underscores the critical importance of maintaining up-to-date device software for safety and security purposes.

(With inputs from agencies.)