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3G shutdown looms for small businesses

3G shutdown looms for small businesses

Bruce Billson, the Australian Small, Medium and Family Business Ombudsman, says small, family and agricultural businesses urgently need to ensure they are not caught off guard by the 3G switch-off taking place in the coming weeks.

Appearing before the Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport References Committee inquiry into the closure of the 3G mobile network today, Mr Billson called on telecommunications companies and suppliers of business equipment and services to step up and do more to ensure small businesses are not harmed by the closure.

“It is vital that small family businesses and agricultural businesses take action to find out if they are affected and, if so, upgrade their technology before they find themselves disconnected and technology malfunctioning and it is detrimental to their business,” he said.

“We need to raise awareness of the use of 3G in business equipment and technology, beyond the obvious example of mobile phones.

“The shutdown of 3G could impact payment terminals, security systems and cameras, tablets, smartwatches, vending machines and even swipe pads in parking lots.

“Asset tracking tools, measurement instruments, water and environmental monitoring, farm gates and many other wireless control systems can be affected.

Mr Billson stressed that telecommunications companies and equipment suppliers must do more to ensure that small businesses are not harmed.

“The telcos are best placed to know who is using 3G for reasons other than making phone calls. They will have data on who is currently paying to use that spectrum,” he said.

“As the party most aware of what is happening and as the commercial beneficiary of the reuse of 3G spectrum, it is not unreasonable for telecoms companies to step up, identify customers using 3G for purposes other than calling and work with business equipment suppliers to ensure that small, family and agricultural businesses are not left behind following the shutdown.

“There is an awful lot of technology and equipment that is used in everyday life by small family businesses and farms that actually works on 3G.

“You probably don’t think about what technology powers the wireless connection. You think more about what the piece of kit actually does.

“I am concerned that if the 3G network is shut down at the end of August, devices such as older EFTPOS devices, security cameras, asset tracking tools and water and environmental monitoring technology may stop working.

“Even some 4G devices have features that are powered by 3G, but users may not notice this until they stop working. So it makes sense to have these checked as well.

“But beware of scams and only contact providers using reliable information and links.”

Telstra is switching off its 3G network on 31 August and Optus from 1 September. TPG Telecom/Vodafone has already switched off its 3G network.

For more information:

• Telstra www.telstra.com.au/support/mobiles-devices/3g-closure

• Optus www.optus.com.au/3g

• Vodafone/TPG Telecom https://www.vodafone.com.au/support/network/3g-closure

The Australian Mobile Telecommunications Association also has information at www.3gclosure.com.au

OMBUDSMAN’S MEDIA CONTACT: 0448 467 178 / (e-mail address)

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