Summary
Some mobile phones and devices manufactured by ZTE
may not work in a small number of very remote Australian locations where Optus
uses Satellite Small Cell (SSC) technology.
If you use one of these affected devices and travel into
these areas, you may be unable to:
For most customers, this will not affect everyday use,
as the impacted locations are limited to specific remote outback sites.
What is causing this issue?
Optus has identified a technical compatibility issue
between:
Certain
ZTE mobile devices, and
A
small number of Satellite Small Cell (SSC) sites used to provide
coverage in very remote parts of Australia.
When an affected ZTE device is within range of one of these
SSC sites, it may be unable to connect to the Optus mobile network.
Where does this occur?
The issue only affects specific remote locations
across parts of:
South
Australia
Queensland
Western
Australia
Tasmania
Northern
Territory
These sites typically cover roadhouses, national parks, and
remote communities, with an approximate coverage radius of 0.5–3 km per site.
Optus maintains an official list of affected locations,
which is updated as sites are upgraded.
Check affected locations here:
Do I need to take action?
If you do not travel to very remote or outback areas:
No action is required. Your service will continue to work as normal.
If you plan to travel to remote areas:
We strongly recommend checking the Optus SSC location list before travelling.
If your plans include any of the listed areas, please contact our support team
so we can discuss alternative options to help keep you connected and safe.
Why is this important?
In affected areas, impacted devices may be unable to call
Emergency Services using the Optus mobile network. Before travelling to
these locations, you should check if your device is listed as impacted on the Optus
SSC location list at the link provided above.