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12,000 Free 4G Phones for Elderly, Rural or Difficult Situation 3G Customers @ Telstra

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12,000 Free 4G Phones for Elderly, Rural or Difficult Situation 3G Customers @ Telstra
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Cashback
kimba88 on 18/06/2024 - 08:12 telstra.com.au (1072 clicks)
Last edited 18/06/2024 - 13:47 by 2 other users

As per the title, Telstra is giving away 12000 free phones to help Australians transition from the 3G network.

From today, we will be providing around 12,000 complimentary mobile devices for some of our customers who are in difficult situations, live rurally or are elderly. These are customers who may need some external support transition when the 3G network closes, to ensure they’re able to stay connected after the 3G closure on 31 August.

These customers are in difficult situations, and facing things such as financial hardship, or recovering from a natural disaster. Some of these customers also depend on a working phone because they are living with a life-threatening medical condition (our ‘Priority Assistance’ customers). Many of these customers are also over 80 years old and living in regional areas, which can make visiting our stores challenging.

How do I know if I’ll get a new handset from Telstra?

We will be communicating with eligible customers in the coming weeks to let them know a device is on its way. All they have to do is follow the instructions in their package to switch to their new phone on the 4G network.

What do I need to do?

There are around 156,000 customers across consumer and small business that we're communicating with to let them know that they have a handset that is either 3G only, does not support Voice over 4G (VoLTE), has 4G coverage limitations, or is 4G enabled but hardwired to use 3G for Emergency calls, and that they need to upgrade before the 3G closure to stay connected.

If you are in this group, you’ll currently hear a pre-recorded message when making an outgoing call on your mobile phone, reminding you to upgrade.

If you are one of these customers, please don’t ignore it. It is there to remind you that your phone won’t work after 31 August, and you should act now before the network closes.

How do I check my phone?

Any new phone you buy from us will work on 4G and 5G networks.

You can SMS 3 to 3498 (3GXT) to check your phone, and if you have any questions - or if you have received any communication from us and are still unsure - please contact us online, on the phone, or in person.

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closed Comments

  • captain smash on 18/06/2024 - 08:15
    +37

    FFS, This isn’t a deal. Only those that Telstra has already identified are eligible.

    So don’t be a bottom feeder and take advantage of the vulnerable - this is rare and genuinely decent thing from an otherwise forgettable corporate citizen.

    • KLF23 on 18/06/2024 - 08:17
      -7

      Telstra doesn't know how to do anything decent.

      • captain smash on 18/06/2024 - 08:19
        +10

        The Salvation Army, which is probably a decent barometer, apparently disagrees with you.

        “Major Brendan Nottle from The Salvation Army has praised this initiative as a way to help the “most vulnerable members of our community”.

        “Connection is one of the most important things to maintain in our society, whether it is with friends and family or with housing and support services,” he said.

      • doobey1231 on 18/06/2024 - 08:46
        +3

        Somewhere in there someone does know how to do the right thing, even if its for marketing purposes. They made all public pay phones free to call and text a few years back too, plus free wifi(although I think that part of it has stopped). And before anyone says it, I know they are contractually obliged to provide the service, but they aren't obliged to make said service free.

        • RecklessMonkeys on 18/06/2024 - 10:57

          Wouldn't it cost them more to maintain a paid service? Hence just make it free.

          • doobey1231 on 18/06/2024 - 12:08

            @RecklessMonkeys: Dunno, they are a private company now so we will probably never find out. It might cost due to cash in transit but thats the only thing I could think of.

    • kimba88 on 18/06/2024 - 08:38
      +4

      Excuse you for calling me a bottom feeder. It was merely a post to let people who have 3g phones know. It wasnt for people to take advantage of. Telstra has identified who will be elegible.

      • captain smash on 18/06/2024 - 08:42
        +7

        Bottom feeder directed at anyone reading it and thinking this is a free phone opportunity

        • outlander on 18/06/2024 - 10:48

          Can you people please keep your strange kinks to your tumblr? I come to ozbargain for the deals, not to read about butt eating

          • Russ on 19/06/2024 - 01:47

            @outlander: That's not what bottom feeder means.

  • bonky on 18/06/2024 - 08:20
    -3

    Ahhhhh Telscum

  • jimmy1593 on 18/06/2024 - 08:20
    +6

    Cmon leave it for the one who deserve

  • Nickelback on 18/06/2024 - 08:23
    +3

    Yep. Keep handing out free phones so they can keep ripping these customers for the rest of their lives.

  • PainToad on 18/06/2024 - 08:24
    +1

    People have had years to prepare and budget for the 3G shutdown. The media beat up bleeding heart headlines make it sound like it was decided a week ago that 3G services would be shutdown. Yet another bailout of ignorant unprepared people.

    live rurally

    Living rurally doesn't immediately make you vunerable. Many tree change cashed up retires could easily afford a $50 4G phone.

    • try2bhelpful on 18/06/2024 - 08:27
      +2

      There is a difference between regional and rural. Most tree changers would be regional.

      • PainToad on 18/06/2024 - 08:38
        +2

        Being rural still doesn’t magically make you vulnerable. Plenty of rich farmers (and plenty who aren’t too).

        • try2bhelpful on 18/06/2024 - 08:43

          You are the ones who mentioned tree changers. Not a lot of cashed up tree changers are taking up farming or moving to rural communities. It would probably cost Telstra more than the cost of the phones to go much beyond the geography on an area to determine eligibility. I also wonder how many cashed up farmers would have a phone that is still on 3G and would want the low end model that Telstra will, probably, be handing out.

          • PainToad on 18/06/2024 - 08:46
            +4

            @try2bhelpful:

            wonder how many cashed up farmers would have a phone that is still on 3G and would want the low end model that Telstra will, probably, be handing out.

            Ignorant “5G is a conspiracy” ones.

            • try2bhelpful on 18/06/2024 - 08:49
              +1

              @PainToad: Then they will have 4G phones. The proverbial will hit the fan when 4G is shutdown and the Gubbmint will need to pry their 4G phones from their cold dead hands.

        • sn809 on 18/06/2024 - 09:04
          -1

          Why don't you "walk the walk" and go into a rural area and then make a call with your 2 grand phone and tell us who you spoke to. Also try and check your emails.

          • PainToad on 18/06/2024 - 09:15
            -2

            @sn809: So your logic is because you get poor reception living in a small population low priority area you’re entitled to a free phone?

    • captain smash on 18/06/2024 - 08:36
      +3

      You’ve either not read the story or missed the finer points. We’re talking about the vulnerable, no fixed address, homeless. And there’s a difference between rural and regional. Rural communities are some of the most vulnerable groups.

      • PainToad on 18/06/2024 - 08:42
        -1

        Clearly you didn’t actually read the article

        Starting from Tuesday, the telecommunication company will be issuing complimentary phones to customers who are either elderly, live rurally or are in difficult situations.

        Note the or. Being elderly or living in rural areas doesn’t mean you are necessarily financially vulnerable and can’t afford a cheap 4G phone. Lots of “elderly” are sitting on a huge nest of money.

        • try2bhelpful on 18/06/2024 - 08:47
          +1

          You think cashed up people are sitting on their 3G phones waiting for a low end Telstra phone handout?

          • PainToad on 18/06/2024 - 08:52

            @try2bhelpful: Yes. The “my phone works fine, back in my day things lasted forever…whinge whinge bla bla bla” type of people.

            • try2bhelpful on 18/06/2024 - 11:31
              +1

              @PainToad: Do you know many 80 year olds with money?

              • PainToad on 19/06/2024 - 06:10

                @try2bhelpful:

                with money?

                We’re talking like under $100 for a basic prepaid phone that they’ve had years to budget for. Perhaps they could have used the money saved by the continual energy rebates or the “Economic Support” payments during covid or the “Cost of Living” payments since. Lots of handouts the last few years.

                Sure, lots probably are struggling. But the notion that all old people are poor is pure BS.

              • Koalabeer on 19/06/2024 - 10:54

                @try2bhelpful: Actually yes frugal neighbour has 200k, lives in dept of housing. Could buy 20 flagships . The exception however just how they are, however average pensioner I know does have decent handset. It’s choice if they prefer a cheap one 9/10. Have a look around in cafes often see old person use iPhones as easier.

        • RockyRaccoon on 18/06/2024 - 09:13
          +3

          You may not like them, but dont use pointless comments like

          "Lots of"
          "elderly"
          "Huge nest of"

          All emotive.

          Most of these can apply to anyone - Students, Middle aged, Politicians, Ozbargainers (Yep - I also used an undefined emotive "most" 😀)

          Lots of people are fair, lots of people are unfair. Huge nests of people live poorly, huge nests live well off. Like my term "most"

          Going back to the post. Its rather pointless, Telstra is going to offer these to THEIR customers, based on THEIR definition of who qualifies. Lots of and huge nests of ozbargainers needn't apply.

    • hotphil on 18/06/2024 - 10:10

      Yet another bailout of ignorant unprepared people

      Wow. That sounds like the kind of thing someone who drinks banana milk would say.

    • RecklessMonkeys on 18/06/2024 - 11:00

      Oh relax. It's not costing you anything. Most people use technology without understanding it anyway.

      • PainToad on 19/06/2024 - 06:08

        Most people use technology without understanding it anyway.

        Yes, ignorant people.

        • RecklessMonkeys on 19/06/2024 - 11:12

          Aren't we all ignorant about something?

  • Budju on 18/06/2024 - 08:25
    -4

    Keep the boomers safe, keep them secret

  • Tleyx on 18/06/2024 - 08:29
    -6

    Boomer handout

    • try2bhelpful on 18/06/2024 - 08:36
      +1

      You are hating on people over 80?

      However, if you understood anything about the Boomers you would know that group tended to miss out on the Boomer advantages. They didn’t get free Uni, General Superannuation until much later, they had National service etc. The Boomers you really want to hate are my cohort. The 60 to 70 year olds who got all the Goodies.

      In fact quite a few 80 year olds wouldn’t count as Boomers at all. They were born during WW2 not after it.

    • hardya on 18/06/2024 - 09:04

      You mean our founding fathers?

  • try2bhelpful on 18/06/2024 - 08:30
    +4

    This probably should be in the forums. Telstra is identifying who gets the replacement phones. It is a heads up.

  • hippo2s on 18/06/2024 - 08:33
    +1

    So…share prices going down? Or up?

  • Sinnerator on 18/06/2024 - 08:53

    but only if you pay for their $1000/Mo plan

  • Commodore64 on 18/06/2024 - 08:54

    Not a deal.

  • nned2say on 18/06/2024 - 09:07
    +2

    Thanks, Now I figure out why I received a mobile phone from Telestra. For anyone interested, it is a Samsung A15.

  • Perrino on 18/06/2024 - 09:15
    +1

    A free phone thats probably locked to Telstra isn't a deal.

    Also leave them the less fortunate.

  • Jaduqimon on 18/06/2024 - 09:15

    12000 ewaste spec phones probably… They certainly ain't giving away galaxy s24s….

  • clubhonda on 18/06/2024 - 09:19
    +2

    Even though part of this is probably driven by the fact that they want their customers to continue using their service, this is still a praiseworthy initiative by Telstra as it will help those who are most vulnerable. I can't believe how salty some of the comments are.

    • Jaduqimon on 18/06/2024 - 09:24

      Nah it's all virtue signaling. If they Wana do it just do it. It says in the article eligible customers will be contacted privately so why announce it to the world.

      • nned2say on 18/06/2024 - 09:25

        To be fair, telstra had not contacted me before I received the mobile phone. I was quite surprised about it.

        • Jaduqimon on 18/06/2024 - 09:29

          Yes should just do that and not announce it to the news outlets

  • King Tightarse on 18/06/2024 - 09:36
    +1

    This is for those in need, like a soup kitchen.
    I think listing it as a deal encourages some to exploit it

  • Switchblade88 on 18/06/2024 - 10:17
    +2

    Even for people who need this, this is a link to a news article. There is no link to an application page or anything similar even to pass on to people in need.

  • try2bhelpful on 18/06/2024 - 11:42
    +1

    I wonder how many people who are whining here are Telstra shareholders. I am a shareholder and I think it is a good initiative. It negates a lot of the “You can’t shutdown this network” excuses. The cost of the handsets will be offset by the savings in not maintaining the 3G network. They aren’t going to hand out high end handsets. Yes some of the handsets may go to people who can afford a new one on their own but sorting the wheat from the chaff with a means test will probably cost more, per capita, than the handset cost. Rural, check, over 80 check, then sort out regional and urban based on income or compelling need.

    • Russ on 18/06/2024 - 22:28

      offset by the savings in not maintaining the 3G network.

      That's not how it works. The modulation (3G/4G/LTE) is done in software, using very large FPGAs to give enough computing "grunt".

      If the mobile basestation can do 4G, it can do 3G, it's just a software selection for which type of modulation is done on which frequency.

      5G is a different kettle of fish in Australia, because it's on a different frequency band, and requires extra antennas and amplifiers that are suited to that frequency.

      So there is no cost to keeping 3G on. The telcos are removing it because they can get better speeds to more customers by making all of the available frequencies 4G, rather than keeping some frequencies as 3G.

      • try2bhelpful on 18/06/2024 - 22:33

        There will be costs associated with having 3G. As you say it restricts their 4G access rather than the small number left on 3G. It still needs to be maintained and supported for an increasingly small number of clients.

        • Russ on 18/06/2024 - 22:53

          It still needs to be maintained

          There is no maintenance for 3G nor 4G, it's not like Windows. I've designed equipment that goes in basestations, the only "maintenance" is cleaning the cooling system - a glorified air conditioner. And that gets done whether 3G is turned off or not.

          • try2bhelpful on 18/06/2024 - 22:57

            @Russ: Not just the hardware the system as well.

            • Russ on 19/06/2024 - 00:00

              @try2bhelpful: 3G and 4G are ways of modulating data and voice onto radio signals, so only exist between the basestation and the mobile devices, nowhere else. Whether 3G or 4G is being used makes no difference to the backhaul, it's just data, and it's stamped as "internet data" or "voice data". So again, no "maintenance" required for 3G that isn't being done anyway, whether 3G is turned off or being left on.

              To know if a call was 3G or 4G, you look at the call logs, see which basestation was used and which frequency, then query that basestation to find whether that frequency has 3G enabled or 4G enabled.

              When mobile phones connect to the mobile network, they also tell the basestation a heap of information including which modulation modes they support, which frequency bands, and their IMEI. So the telcos know if the phone you're using won't support 4G.

              Let me know if you want any more technical details.

              • try2bhelpful on 19/06/2024 - 01:00

                @Russ: There will be cost savings with no longer allowing both 3G and 4G across the network. At the base level you are talking about you no longer need to check if any device is 3G or make allowance for this. Any modifications or upgrades on a network require testing of the devices that use it. This streamlines and simplifies.

                • Russ on 19/06/2024 - 01:08

                  @try2bhelpful:

                  you no longer need to check if any device is 3G or make allowance for this

                  Stop making stuff up. There is no such check, and no "allowance" exists.

                  When a 3G mobile device connects to the mobile network, it connects on one of the 3G frequencies, because unsurprisingly it can't "understand" the data on the 4G frequencies. There is no check that it's a 3G device.

                  • try2bhelpful on 19/06/2024 - 01:24

                    @Russ: And what will happen with the 3G frequencies when they are no longer needed for 3G devices? From what I’m reading it will be redeployed.

                    “To know if a call was 3G or 4G, you look at the call logs, see which basestation was used and which frequency, then query that basestation to find whether that frequency has 3G enabled or 4G enabled.

                    When mobile phones connect to the mobile network, they also tell the basestation a heap of information including which modulation modes they support, which frequency bands, and their IMEI. So the telcos know if the phone you're using won't support 4G”

                    3G will no longer be a consideration in the situation you highlight above.

                    • Russ on 19/06/2024 - 01:38

                      @try2bhelpful: That's what I said above.

                      So finally you're agreeing that there is no extra expense to keeping 3G going, and the Telcos are only stopping 3G because it will improve data speeds across the network?

                      By the way, the speed improvement won't be noticeable to most people. It's like "Hey, we just went from 90% of the frequencies on our nearest basestation were available to 4G, to 100% of the frequencies". Possibly some remote-area basestations have only a couple of frequencies in use, so for those it could go from 50% to 100%. But that doesn't equate to a doubling of speeds, as now the 3G users will start using 4G data.

                      • try2bhelpful on 19/06/2024 - 01:53
                        -1

                        @Russ: Actually that is not what I said. I stated that, from your own comments, there needs to be additional management overhead having both 3G and 4G. Additionally any network modifications would need to ensure that 3G and 4G handsets continued to still work. Now they can dump a lot of testing requirements when network changes are made. They don’t need to consider anything to do with 3G.

                        • Russ on 19/06/2024 - 01:59

                          @try2bhelpful:

                          from your own comments, there needs to be additional management overhead

                          I did not say that. There is no management overhead, as I said above. And you're apparently trying to move the goalposts, you were talking about "maintenance".

                          Additionally any network modifications would need to ensure that 3G and 4G handsets continued to still work. Now they can dump a lot of testing requirements

                          Nope again. The exchange equipment is made by international suppliers, who supply all countries, and they make sure it meets the international standards. No Australian telco makes their own mobile network equipment, and they don't test it either.

                          I've decided not to reply to any more of your posts, you're obviously determined not to be convinced.

                          • try2bhelpful on 19/06/2024 - 08:23
                            -1

                            @Russ: Happy to terminate this conversation as well because you aren’t looking at all the costs, and complexity, associated with continuing to run both 3G and 4G in parallel. Especially given the network failures we’ve seen it would be a foolhardy company that didn’t do its own compliance testing when making modifications to ensure outages won’t occur.

                            However, I’m sure you will be back to make yet another comment.

  • Jaduqimon on 18/06/2024 - 11:51
    +1

    Last time Telstra gave out free phones was exploited hard by OzBargain:

    https://www.ozbargain.com.au/node/426540

    • M911 on 18/06/2024 - 15:19
      +1

      I grabbed two, i was using one until last christmas - the other was an extra as i have an older person who would dropped their phones - though they are not old enough to qualify for this one.

  • Mechz on 18/06/2024 - 12:15
    -1

    That's all well and good, but how about fixing rural exchanges that stop providing mobile service 3 hours after the power goes out (which stops the landline from functioning immediately) ?

    • Russ on 19/06/2024 - 01:20

      after the power goes out (which stops the landline from functioning immediately)

      Landlines don't stop working when the power goes out, unless your "landline" is connected through the NBN, and therefore stops working because your router and/or NTD lost power.

      If your landline is a pair of copper wires that go back to the exchange, exchanges have battery backup and usually a generator if the batteries get low. So they continue to work through power outages.

      Your phone handset may not continue to work though, if it is powered by mains. You need a handset that is powered by the exchange, through the copper wires, like this one: https://www.bigw.com.au/product/uniden-slimline-corded-phone…

      • Mechz on 19/06/2024 - 11:35

        No NBN at my parents rural farm. It is indeed copper that goes all the way to the exchange. Probably 4G from the exchange on.

        They have a cordless phone, so it's powered when my dad fires up the generator. They also have an old Telstra touchtone that fails to work in power outages.

        The exchange has battery backup for the attached mobile tower that lasts 4 hours after a power outage starts. So they get 4 hours of mobile coverage then nothing.

        During more severe weather events it's sometimes been a week or two before Telstra get someone out to fix the power or hook up a generator.

        So zero comms unless they drive to the closest "town" which isn't that far but can also be cut off if there's been too much rain.

        • Russ on 20/06/2024 - 09:30

          The Telstra touchtone should work in theory, but I suppose there must be a maximum range from the exchange before the wire resistance becomes too high, and the farm is probably beyond that.

          The only alternative options for a reliable phone service in this situation are expensive, like a VOIP phone using satellite internet connection, and all powered by the generator you mentioned. Satellite internet starts at $60/month for NBN satellite, but the delay caused by it's satellite being geosynchronous will be annoying for phone calls. Starlink internet won't have that delay, but is more expensive again.

    • PainToad on 19/06/2024 - 06:19

      “Landlines” don’t exist anymore (or won’t soon if you’re in some extremely rural area that hasn’t been decommissioned yet). What you consider to be a landline is mostly like a VOIP service masquerading as a landline running over NBN or 4G.

      • Russ on 20/06/2024 - 09:34

        For areas that are only covered by NBN satellite, landlines are going to stay forever. Unless I've missed an announcement in the news?

        • PainToad on 21/06/2024 - 09:43

          Wow TIL. So does NBN provide this service? RSP resell it? Or Telstra continue to provide it using the copper they sold to Telstra?

          What a mess.

          • Russ on 22/06/2024 - 17:12

            @PainToad: I'm pretty sure it'll be Telstra, as the wires are connected to Telstra equipment at the exchange.

            I can't find the exact details quickly, but I'm pretty sure Telstra only sold the pits and pipes, not the copper. I think there was a clause in the contract saying existing wires had to stay.

            NBN Co also gave Telstra a huge chunk of money to "compensate" them for the loss of their customers, this may have permitted NBN Co to use the wires for FTTN.

            Telstra still have a lot of other services running through those pipes, like ISDN and business ethernet, so they couldn't sell the pits and pipes without still having access.

  • ams898 on 19/06/2024 - 08:30

    Any word on which phone Telstra is handing out this time?

  • coolsteps on 25/07/2024 - 22:51

    shame its not a smart phone just a 4g key phone. has. anyone that only ported into telstra with a 3g phone after june 30 managed request one from telstra?

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