🇦🇺 3G network closure - Australia

[Sir_Crispy_FP5]

Hi All,

I just had a read of this thread and notice someone is having trouble with their eSIM on the Optus network.

SIM card doesn't work anymore

Hi everybody, I have a Fairphone 5 and I’m currently travelling to Australia. I took a SIM card here, from Optus, and it has veen working perfectly fine for the past two weeks. Tonight, Fairphone asked me to do a security update, which I did, and since then my SIM card doesn’t work. I get the message “SIM card 1 not autorized”. I tried to restart the phone but it’s still the same. I also tried to go on Airplane mode and then back: when I do this, the SIM card works for a few second (enough to …

I currently haven’t installed the latest update (FP5.UT2L.B.107) released on March 10th so I’m a little concerned about doing it at the moment.

Has anyone else had any issues with the eSIM after the latest update?

[NickHowson]

Imagine my horror finding this thread after seeing the “Sim 1 Not Allowed” on my brand new Fairphone5 I setup today.

Anyone invovled had any infomration back from any of the telco or TIO/ACMA type people?

Do I really need to swap to an optus network (yuk)?

[Jabarkis]

Hi Nick, I think it’d be worth lodging feedback/complaints with your current provider, if you have the time, but as far as I know, Optus and Vodafone networks both work with the FP5 (for now). I can only vouch for Optus, though.

[Sir_Crispy_FP5]

Hi Nick

I can image that, not the way you’d want your first experience the FP5 to go.

In summary my response from Telstra was poor, the complaints person I spoke to weren’t looking to change the way the do anything and had no idea if they were evening looking at changing it.

The TIO said they had no control in this situation with what the telcos where doing, but did help getting Telstra to pay me out so to speak.

There is still a case to be made though, the fact is the FP5 does have the technology/ability to work on there network but they are choosing not to test the phone (because they don’t sell it) or change anything on their to fix the situation.

My opinion on this: it allows Optus and Telstra to have a monopoly on the phone market in Australia.

I’ve only tested the FP5 on the Optus network, which works for me, although I’m not happy with the coverage I don’t have much choose.

[IainM]

Yeah I think this is the experience you should expect.

Fundamentally Telstra are not going to unblock FP5 until Fairphone can give them assurance that it works for emergency calling so they can tick the box to say they’re compliant with the law. TIO can’t/won’t interfere with something Telstra are doing to be legally compliant.

To Crispy’s point about monopoly power, if a handset maker is giving assurance that it’s compliant and Telstra are still blocking, then there’s an anticompetitive conduct case to take to the ACCC. But given we’ve bought a phone that Fairphone expressly make zero warranties about it working in Australia, we’re not in that scenario.

It’s not going to solve your issue now, but the other thing you can do is put some pressure on the Department for them to implement the vaguely mentioned rumours that they want to facilitate more centralised, systematic testing. This is probably best done via your local MP.