Outdated Samsung Galaxy Phones in Australia: A Fatal Wake-Up Call
In a tragic incident in Sydney, Australia, a person lost their life after their outdated Samsung Galaxy phone failed to connect to emergency services. The individual, a customer of Lebara—a mobile service operating on Vodafone’s network—attempted to dial 000, Australia’s emergency number, during a medical emergency. Unfortunately, the call did not go through due to the device’s outdated software, which was incompatible with making emergency calls on the TPG network. ([theguardian.com](https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/nov/18/customer-died-after-triple-zero-call-didnt-work-on-samsung-phone-tpg-says?utm_source=openai))
TPG Telecom, the parent company of Vodafone and Lebara, confirmed the incident, stating that there were no network outages at the time. Early investigations suggest that the failure was due to the Samsung device operating on software that was not compatible with making Triple Zero calls on the network. ([abc.net.au](https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-18/nsw-tpg-telecom-sydney-person-samsumg-triple-0-death/106021692?utm_source=openai))
This incident has raised significant concerns about the safety of using outdated mobile devices, especially in critical situations. Samsung and several Australian telecommunications providers, including TPG, Optus, and Telstra, had previously identified this issue. In late October, they began notifying customers about the potential inability of certain older Samsung devices to connect to emergency services. The affected models include:
– Galaxy A7 (2017)
– Galaxy A5 (2017)
– Galaxy J1 (2016)
– Galaxy J3 (2016)
– Galaxy J5 (2017)
– Galaxy Note 5
– Galaxy S6 series
– Galaxy S7 series
These devices no longer receive security updates, rendering them vulnerable to various issues, including the inability to make emergency calls. Samsung has also identified newer models, such as the Galaxy S21 lineup, that require immediate software updates to ensure they can connect to emergency services. ([9to5google.com](https://9to5google.com/2025/11/18/unsupported-galaxy-phone-linked-to-death-australia/?utm_source=openai))
The scale of this problem is substantial. Approximately 50,000 Samsung devices in Australia are at risk of being unable to dial 000 when needed. Telecommunications providers have urged customers to update their devices promptly. Those who fail to do so within a specified period may have their devices blocked from the network to prevent potential safety hazards. ([thenewdaily.com.au](https://www.thenewdaily.com.au/news/2025/11/18/death-linked-to-call-failure?utm_source=openai))
This incident underscores the critical importance of keeping mobile devices updated. Regular software updates not only provide new features but also address security vulnerabilities and ensure compatibility with essential services like emergency calling. Users are strongly encouraged to check their device’s software version and update it as necessary. For devices that no longer receive updates, it may be time to consider upgrading to a newer model to ensure safety and functionality.
In light of this tragedy, it’s imperative for both consumers and manufacturers to recognize the potential risks associated with outdated technology. Ensuring that devices are up-to-date can be a matter of life and death, as this unfortunate event has demonstrated.
