By Bruce Billson.

Originally published in the West Australian.

Small, family and farming businesses should take urgent action to make sure they are not caught out by the 3G switch-off coming in October.

This change is about far more than upgrading an old 3G phone.

The 3G switch-off may disable older-style EFTPOS terminals and tap-to-pay pads at carpark exits and on vending machines while vital equipment and software, including those relating to record-keeping, accounts, bookings and payroll, could stop working.

At risk may be security systems and cameras, tablets, telephones in elevators and fire alarms.

Asset tracking tools, surveying instruments, water and environmental monitoring, farm gates and many other wireless operating systems may also cease functioning.

There are also very serious safety concerns about people who rely on 3G for medical monitors and sensors and to make sure calls can still be made to emergency services.

Many of us do not realise there is an awful lot of technology and equipment used every day that’s actually enabled by 3G, and I fear many small businesses are unaware of the scope of this event and the possible business-harming disconnection and technology dysfunction they may face.

My message is to check the functionality of your technology so you’re not a 3G casualty.

Quite understandably, many of us focus on what the piece of kit actually does and the timesaving or technology-enhancing way it allows us to get on with business.

It would be terrible if the first time you learn it runs on 3G is when it shuts down, and that might be critical to your business operations.

You might use remote monitoring of water levels in a dam, assessing microclimates in a vineyard or opening and shutting gates. You might even have a surveying station called a Total Station.

You might be selling miniature goats at regional shows and relying on a mobile EFTPOS machine.

Or you might be tracking assets and trucks for a freight company or unable to get out of a car park.

A security system might be looking after your premises, and all of a sudden there’s no link back to the base station and no remote observation capability.

Even some 4G-enabled devices have aspects that are powered by 3G and some 4G mobile phones default to 3G for emergency calls.

Telstra and Optus have responded to concerns that too many people are not aware and not ready for the switch-off by announcing they will delay the shutdown from the end of August until 28 October.

We need an education and awareness campaign by telecommunications companies and technology manufacturers and suppliers aimed at explaining the wide-ranging effects and options for small, family and farming businesses to upgrade or replace their equipment as soon as possible.

Everyone needs to use this extension of time wisely. Make a call to the supplier of your technology and ask the question: will the end of 3G impact me?

We can’t just let the shot clock run down and then have an awful lot of distressed business owners on 29 October saying: “Hey my stuff doesn’t work”.