Keeping you safe: Emergency calling in remote outback areas restored - Site upgrades complete.

5 June 2026

We previously identified an issue where some devices were unable to call Emergency Services (i.e. Triple Zero & ‘112’) where coverage is available in some very remote outback areas where Optus operates Satellite Small Cell (SSC) sites. All SSC sites have now been upgraded, and previously impacted devices will be able to make calls to Emergency Services, where coverage is available, in those areas once they have been restarted.

As of 30 May 2026, all SSC sites have been upgraded to ensure previously impacted devices can call Emergency Services where coverage is available.

If your impacted device was blocked by Optus prior to SSC site upgrades, they have now been unblocked. Please restart your device and ensure your SIM is inserted to connect to the mobile network. For more information regarding blocked devices, see the section below: ‘Impacted Motorola Devices’.

Previously Impacted devices

While SSC upgrade activities were being completed, some ZTE & Motorola devices were impacted. Emergency calling from these devices in remote outback areas where coverage is available has now been restored. To check the model of your phone, go to ‘Settings’ and then ‘About phone’.

Motorola Devices

As of 30 May 2026, all SSC sites have been upgraded to ensure impacted Motorola moto g35 5G devices can call Emergency Services where coverage is available.

The following Motorola devices were not able to call Emergency Services (i.e. Triple Zero & ‘112’) where coverage is available in very remote outback SSC sites. While devices appeared to have network coverage in these SSC sites, they were not be able to make calls to Emergency Services (i.e. Triple Zero & ‘112’) where coverage is available. To keep customers safe, we were required under Australian law to block device(s) that did not comply with mobile safety requirements.

**Impacted Motorola Mobility Australia Pty. Ltd Models:**
Model Number	Device Name
XT2433-4	Motorola moto g35 5G

If your impacted device was blocked by Optus prior to SSC site upgrades, they have now been unblocked. Please restart your device to connect to the mobile network. If you have restarted your device and are experiencing issues with your connection to the mobile network, please contact us immediately at 133 937.

What you need to know.

Why did this happen?

Some devices were not compatible with the technology used in Satellite Small Cell (SSC) sites that operate in very remote outback areas. Network upgrades have now been completed for all SSC sites to ensure devices can call Emergency Services where coverage is available.

What is a Satellite Small Cell (SSC) site?

Satellite Small Cell (SSC) sites are sites that are located in very remote outback areas where cellular towers are not available. These sites are typically attached to existing structures and connected via Optus satellite to Optus core network, providing limited coverage to remote towns and communities in outback Australia where standard cellular towers are unavailable.

ZTE Devices

As of 30 May 2026, all SSC sites have been upgraded to ensure impacted ZTE devices can call Emergency Services where coverage is available.

**Impacted ZTE Corporation Models:**
Model Number	Device Name
ZTE P602	Optus X-Plus
ZTE P505	Optus X-Start 5
ZTE P280	Optus X-Flip

**Impacted Nubia Technology Co Ltd Models:**
Model Number	Device Name
ZTE Nubia P7 Pro 5G	Optus X-Value 5G
ZTE Nubia P9 Pro 5G	Optus X-Pro 2 5G
ZTE Nubia Focus 2 5G	Nubia Focus 2 5G
ZTE Nubia Neo 3 GT 5G	Nubia Neo 3 GT 5G

What you need to know.

Why did this happen?

What is a Satellite Small Cell (SSC) site?

Satellite Small Cell (SSC) sites are located in remote outback areas where cellular towers are not available. These sites are typically attached to existing structures and connected via Optus satellite to Optus core network, providing limited coverage to remote towns and communities in outback Australia where standard cellular towers are unavailable.