why the fuck would you need VoLTE to the emergency services? is the high quality audio really oh so important or what?

This is simply a giant intentional clustetfuck of an abomination.

If emergency calling is actually the emergency, the standard should be backwards compatible and designed to accept any device.

It kind of does, but the telcos are just playing dirty by excluding devices they don’t have control over.

From the article:

"Why this is a Problem

While the amendments aim to ensure access to emergency services, the changes will have severe consequences for consumers, competition, and the overall accessibility of mobile services. Whilst also not addressing the core technical standardisation failures with VoLTE Calling and Emergency Calling.

This policy essentially penalises customers for using devices that work but were not purchased directly from the telcos or their partners. Once in effect, this would further concentrate profits and market control to the telcos & major handset makers, and severely limit competition & choice in the market.

Under the updated ECSD, telcos must identify and notify users of phones deemed incapable of accessing emergency services, assist them in finding alternative devices, and ultimately cease service to these phones.

This will likely impact devices that have been manually updated to work for VoLTE Calling and Emergency Calling as they aren’t ‘officially’ supported."

I wonder how it would impact custom OSes.