The National Broadband Network (the NBN)
For FirstCall ‘Home Safe’ alarms only - Not applicable to ‘Out and About’ pendants.
The NBN is rolling-out through Australia, and eventually will replace the old copper telephone network.
If you have recently been contacted about the NBN, there is no hurry. From the time the NBN is rolled out in your area you have approximately 18 months to connect to the NBN service. After the 18-month period has expired, and if you have not yet upgraded to the NBN, your existing telephone service will be cut-off.
You can check your address for the NBN service here.
If you have a FirstCall Medical Alarm it is important that you tell everyone who contacts you about the NBN that you have a FirstCall Medical Alarm, and that you require a voice phone service.
To minimise interruption to your telephone service during the changeover to the NBN, we recommend that you register your medical alarm with the NBN. You can also contact the NBN by calling 1800 227 300 or emailing to info@nbnco.com.au
There are three basic types of the NBN: Multi-Technology-Mix, Fibre-to-the-Home, and Satellite.
Multi-Technology Mix - Fibre to the Node (FttN), HFC cable systems, and Fibre to the Kerb (FttK)
This is the type of NBN service currently being rolled out to most Australian homes. FirstCall Medical Alarms will work on the FttN, HFC or FttK systems but, as those systems do not have any battery back-up, they do not work during a mains power failure or an NBN service disruption.
If you are concerned about the NBN not working in a blackout or a service disruption a good solution is to have your service provider supply a Smart Modem with 4G wireless back-up for voice, and an uninterruptible power supply (UPS). If the mains-power or the NBN fails the modem will then automatically switch over to the 4G network and your home telephone and your FirstCall Medical Alarm will still operate for up to 4 hours.
We recommend the Telstra Gen 2 or Gen 3 Smart Modems that are supplied with the Telstra NBN service, together with a Telstra Uninterruptible Power Supply (UPS). Currently, eligible Telstra Priority Assistance customers who have a home phone service connected to the NBN can get the UPS from Telstra for free.
Click the button at the bottom of this page to see how to connect your FirstCall Medical Alarm to the NBN modem.
Fibre-to-the-Home (FttH)
This was the type of NBN service rolled-out in first-release NBN areas. It is also likely you will have this type of NBN service in brand new housing estates. All medical alarms supplied by FirstCall have been tested and work correctly on the NBN Fibre-to-the-Home system. All your existing telephones, and the FirstCall Medical Alarm, are connected to the UNI-V socket on the NBN modem.
The NBN Fibre-to-the-Home system (FttH) requires a battery back-up power supply in your home so the medical alarm can continue to operate for 8-12 hours during a mains power failure. Please tell your service provider that you have a medical alarm and that you need the UNI-V (Universal Voice service) a battery back-up power supply for the NBN modem.
NBN Satellite
If you live in a remote rural area you are likely to be serviced by satellite NBN. If you have a satellite NBN service your existing telephone service will not be affected.
Click the button below to see how to connect your FirstCall Medical Alarm to the NBN modem.