Telstra has announced it has discovered that some older Apple devices cannot access its network, including to contactTriple Zero.
The impacted models are the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X, following software updates released this week.
It comes amid a spate of Triple Zero access issues dating back to 2024.
Telstra said it is investigating the issue “as a priority”. Apple has paused software updates for older iPhones.
Details
Telstra shared the issue on Wednesday night, saying older iPhones updated to iOS 16.7.13 had been impacted.
This software update was released by Apple on 26 January.
The same day, Apple shared a support blog post explaining previous Triple Zero outage issues in Australia, encouraging customers to update their software to avoid them.
Apple said: “In the rare event that these exceptional circumstances... happen again, some older mobile phones might still encounter the same issue”.
The company encouraged customers with older iPhones and Apple Watches to “update your devices to the latest software version.”
Among the models listed by Apple were the iPhone 8, 8 Plus, and X — the three devices Telstra said were impacted by the connectivity issue.
Outages
Your contribution ensures The Daily Aus can continue doing the work you love.
I want to give $10 monthly to help TDA keep doing the news.
Your details:
Since 2024, there have been multiple instances of Australians beingunable to connect to Triple Zero.
On 18 September 2025, three deaths were linked to an Optus outage, where customers could not connect to Triple Zero over a period of 15 hours.
Two months later, a TPG customer was attempting to call Triple Zero using an affected Samsung phone.
A person then died. TPG did not confirm if this was the same person as the customer unable to reach Triple Zero.
In 2024, Telstra, Optus and Vodaphone/TPG switched off their 3G networks.
As some 4G devices revert to 3G when dialling Triple Zero, telcos are required by the Federal Government to alert affected customers within five business days of discovering an incompatible device.
If the device cannot be made compatible, it must be blocked by the telco after 28-35 days.
What’s next?
Telstra currently recommends customers with the impacted devices delay software updates.
The telco said calls to Triple Zero will reconnect automatically on an alternative network if available. Telstra said this “can take some time (e.g. one minute)”.
In an update, Telstra said that Apple has found a fix for the issue, available in an upcoming software update. It recommends customers connect to Wi-Fi to receive the update when it is available.
A Senate inquiry into the Optus Triple Zero outages is due to hand down its findings next month.
