While the amendments aim to ensure access to emergency services, the changes will have severe consequences for consumers, competition, and the overall accessibility of mobile services. Whilst also not addressing the core technical standardisation failures with VoLTE Calling and Emergency Calling.
This policy essentially penalises customers for using devices that work but were not purchased directly from the telcos or their partners. Once in effect, this would further concentrate profits and market control to the telcos & major handset makers, and severely limit competition & choice in the market.
Under the updated ECSD, telcos must identify and notify users of phones deemed incapable of accessing emergency services, assist them in finding alternative devices, and ultimately cease service to these phones.
This will likely impact devices that have been manually updated to work for VoLTE Calling and Emergency Calling as they aren’t ‘officially’ supported."