Dwindling delights and mobile frights

So I go to the site and the instructions sound fairly straightforward: "Once the latest software is installed, go into settings to request the 4G voice service and follow the prompts.

• Open Apps icon
• Locate Settings Icon
• Click Mobile Networks
• Select VoLTE to enable on the device."

Yeah, right. I must be doing something wrong because I can't find any mention of VoLTE anywhere on my mobile.

Seems I'm not alone, and it's not just Optus, according to this ABC report:

Queensland IT worker Serge didn't think his 4G phone would be impacted by the gradual shutdown of Australia's 3G networks - until one day when his device suddenly couldn't make or receive calls.

"I was sort of in a bit of a panic," he said. "I'm pulling my hair out. I'm connected to 4G. Everything seems to be working. Why can't I make phone calls?"

Serge said he was warned by his provider to upgrade his phone before telecommunications giant TPG (which now owns Vodafone) shut down its 3G network - but he ignored the warnings, believing his 4G device would not be affected.

More Australians like Serge are likely to be caught out by further 3G shutdowns this year, with millions of Telstra and Optus customers (as well as those using smaller providers on those two networks) to lose 3G coverage in the coming months.

The shutdowns are also causing concern for some people living and working in regional and rural areas…..

VoLTE (short for voice over long term evolution) is what most modern phones use to send voice calls over the same 4G and 5G channels that also carry other mobile data.

Essentially, VoLTE allows 4G and 5G phones to usually have better call quality, faster connection times, and the ability to use voice and data at the same time.

After doing some research, Serge said he discovered his Android phone did have VoLTE capability, but the toggle to enable it was in a hidden menu he could only access by putting a specific code into his phone's dialler.

Serge said he also checked the phones of some family members and found some of their devices also didn't have VoLTE enabled by default, which caused issues when their 3G network disappeared…

Crikey! If an IT worker couldn't figure it out. What chance would a non-tech Boomer like me have?

But there's more: In evidence presented to a Senate inquiry in July, Australia's second-largest mobile provider, Optus, said up to 150,000 could be left without access to critical functions like triple zero calls, online banking and telehealth services after the shutdown in September.

"The migration experience that we've had to date is that you have to do two things: create awareness and remove barriers for customers to act, but then also prepare for the fact that some will not," Optus head of new products Harvey Wright told the committee.

"It's just human nature…"

Feeling more confused than ever, I phone a couple of my tech-savvy sons, one of whom suggests that maybe I don't have to worry or I should have been receiving more warnings by text or whenever I made a phone call (which I don't do often).

But with D Day rapidly approaching, I finally decide to visit the local Optus office in a busy shopping centre. Half a dozen staff are already occupied dealing with others who could be facing similar problems or trying to buy a new device, but eventually I am served by a pleasant young woman.

I hand over my phone and show her the text telling me I'm about to be cut off unless I download VoLTE. She only takes a couple of seconds before telling me, "No you don't have to do anything, it's all ok…"

"Well that text has caused me a lot of wasted time and bother."