Don’t get caught out by the 3G switch-off warns ombudsman

Bruce Billson, Australian Small Business and Family Enterprise Ombudsman, says the 3G switch-off is about far more than upgrading an old mobile phone. Small, family, and farming businesses should take urgent action to ensure they are not caught out by the switch-off in October.

Many of us do not realise that an awful lot of technology and equipment used every day is actually enabled by 3G, and I fear many small businesses are unaware of the scope of this event and the possible business-harming disconnection and technology dysfunction they may face.

My message is to check your technology’s functionality so you’re not a 3G casualty.

The 3G switch-off may disable older-style EFTPOS terminals and tap-to-pay pads at carpark exits and vending machines, while vital equipment and software, including those relating to record-keeping, accounts, bookings, and payroll, could stop working.

Security systems and cameras, tablets, telephones in elevators, and fire alarms may be at risk.

Asset tracking tools, surveying instruments, water and environmental monitoring, farm gates and many other wireless operating systems may also cease functioning.

There are also very serious safety concerns about people who rely on 3G for medical monitors and sensors and to ensure calls can still be made to emergency services.

Quite understandably, many of us focus on what the piece of kit actually does and the timesaving or technology enhancing way it allows us to get on with business.

It would be terrible if the first time you learn it runs on 3G is when it shuts down, which might be critical to your business operations.

You might use remote monitoring of water levels in a dam, be assessing microclimates in a vineyard or opening and shutting gates. You might even have a surveying station called a Total Station.

You might be selling miniature goats at regional shows and relying on a mobile EFTPOS machine.

Or you might be tracking assets and trucks for a freight company or unable to get out of a car park.

A security system might be looking after your premises, but suddenly, there’s no link back to the base station and no remote observation capability.

Even some 4G-enabled devices have aspects that are powered by 3G and some 4G mobile phones default to 3G for emergency calls.

Telstra and Optus have responded to concerns that too many people are not aware and not ready for the switch-off by delaying the shutdown that had been scheduled for the start of September until 28 October.

But this must be accompanied with actions to improve awareness that 3G use is embedded in business equipment and technology in small, family and farming businesses.

It can’t just be more of the same in the hope people become aware of it through serendipity.

We need a co-ordinated education and awareness campaign by telecommunications companies and technology manufacturers and suppliers aimed at improving awareness and action among small businesses and explaining the wide-ranging effects and options to upgrade or replace their equipment as soon as possible.

Surely the telcos are best placed to know who is using 3G for reasons other than making phone calls and have data about who is currently paying the bill for use of that spectrum.

As the ‘most likely to know’ party and the commercial beneficiaries of the re-use of 3G spectrum, it is not unreasonable for telcos to lean-in, identify customers using 3G for other than call purposes and to work with business equipment providers to make sure small, family and farming businesses are not left stranded after the shutdown.

It is pleasing that Telstra has reviewed its billing data to see which third-party equipment and service vendors are still paying for the use of 3G spectrum, urging these vendors to reach out to unsuspecting customers before they are disconnected.

Everyone needs to use this extension of time wisely. Make a call to the supplier of your technology and ask the question – will the end of 3G impact on me?

We can’t just let the clock run down and then have an awful lot of distressed business owners on 29 October saying, ‘hey my stuff doesn’t work’.

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