Sydney, Jan 30, 2026, 17:26 AEDT — Market closed
- Telstra (ASX:TLS) closed Friday higher by 1.46%, finishing at A$4.88 and outperforming the broader market.
- The telco has been addressing an Apple iOS-related calling issue impacting certain older iPhones, including access to Triple Zero.
- Attention now turns to whether the fix holds through Monday’s session, along with the company’s February results and dividend schedule.
Shares of Telstra Group Ltd (TLS.AX) climbed 1.46%, ending Friday at A$4.88, up from Thursday’s close of A$4.81. The stock traded in a range of A$4.825 to A$4.885, with roughly 13 million shares exchanging hands.
The gains followed Telstra addressing an issue affecting some older Apple devices, which could prevent calls—including emergency calls to Triple Zero (000)—from connecting to its network. The company said Apple has rolled out a carrier settings update, a minor network configuration patch, with a more comprehensive software fix expected in an upcoming iOS update.
This is significant because Telstra is often seen as a reliable, dividend-focused stock, and problems with basic services can quickly damage its reputation and risk losing customers. The shares held up better than the broader market on Friday, even as Australia’s S&P/ASX 200 index dropped 0.7%.
9News reported that the outage affected users of iPhone 8, iPhone 8 Plus, and iPhone X following the iOS 16.7.13 update. Customers on Optus and TPG/Vodafone networks were spared. The update was a carrier settings patch, not a full iOS upgrade. Technology commentator Trevor Long emphasized that “it’s critical that all users continue to accept new software versions” to maintain security and connectivity. 9News
Australia’s Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman acknowledged on Thursday that some users are struggling to reach Triple Zero on older Apple devices. Early indications point to a possible issue with Apple software. The ombudsman advised anyone unable to get through to 000 in an emergency to seek help from neighbours or local emergency services. It also said it can escalate complaints to providers for urgent review when safety or health risks are at stake.
That quick patch might not close the book. A delayed, more extensive software update—or a bigger underlying problem—could drive complaints up and intensify scrutiny over emergency-call access when devices or networks go down.
With the ASX closed until Monday, all eyes turn to updates from Telstra and Apple. They’ll be key to seeing if the wider iOS updates are still on hold and how much the carrier patch has taken hold. If the problem starts creeping beyond a limited set of older devices, the mood could shift quickly.
Investors should watch for Telstra’s half-year results on Feb. 19, with the ex-dividend date set for Feb. 25—after which new buyers won’t receive the interim dividend. The record date follows on Feb. 26, and the company plans to pay the interim dividend on March 27, according to its investor calendar.
