Summary
Due to government policy and carrier-led withdrawal of legacy voice platforms, lift phone (emergency lift line) services must be migrated to a modern, supported delivery model.
Lift phone services that rely on the nbn UNI-V analogue voice product can no longer be supported long term, as major carriers are exiting this platform ahead of its formal decommissioning.
Pickle will manage this migration for existing lift phone customers to ensure ongoing safety, compliance, and service continuity.
Important clarification: how lift phones are used
Lift phones do not call 000.
Lift phones are configured to:
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Automatically dial the lift maintainer’s 24/7 helpdesk
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Allow trapped passengers to communicate with trained lift technicians
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Meet lift safety and building compliance requirements
Although lift phones do not connect directly to emergency services, they are still considered safety-critical communication services and are affected by government policy and carrier platform changes.
Why this change is required
The nbn UNI-V voice product was originally designed to replicate legacy analogue phone lines. Under current government policy and industry regulation, this platform is being withdrawn.
While nbn has published a long-term decommissioning horizon, major carriers are exiting UNI-V earlier, meaning services will no longer be supported, repaired, or provisioned.
Confirmed carrier exit dates for nbn UNI-V
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Commander: December 2025
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AAPT: July 2026
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Telstra: August 2027
Pickle delivers lift phone services using AAPT, which means all UNI-V-based lift phone services must be migrated before July 2026.
This change is policy- and carrier-driven, not optional.
Updated lift phone service model
Lift phone services will be migrated to a Pickle-managed mobile and VoIP solution.
What this means
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The lift phone uses mobile connectivity
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Calls to the lift maintainer’s helpdesk are delivered using VoIP
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The entire solution is supplied, configured, and maintained by Pickle
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The service is not dependent on carrier retail voice products or nbn UNI-V
While mobile and VoIP technology is used, the service is:
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Fully owned and managed by Pickle
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Independent of carrier product withdrawals
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Designed for long-term stability of lift communications
What Pickle will do
Pickle will manage the migration end-to-end, including:
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Supplying and configuring a new compliant Integrated Access Device (IAD)
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Coordinating the migration to minimise disruption
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Testing the lift phone service after changeover
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Providing ongoing monitoring and support
Pricing (existing customers only)
One-off migration cost
- $950 ex GST per IAD / per lift service
This includes:
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Hardware
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Configuration
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Migration coordination
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Testing and validation
5-year contract renewal incentive
Customers who renew their lift phone service on a 5-year contract term receive:
- 50% discount on the migration fee
Discounted migration cost:
- $475 ex GST per IAD / per lift service
Monthly charges
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No change to existing monthly pricing
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All recurring service charges remain the same after migration
Timing and next steps
Migrations will be scheduled progressively to ensure completion before AAPT’s UNI-V exit in July 2026.
Pickle will contact customers directly to:
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Confirm site and service details
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Confirm the migration approach
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Arrange a suitable migration window
No action is required until you are contacted.
What happens if the service is not migrated?
Once carriers exit the UNI-V platform:
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The service may stop working without notice
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Faults may not be repairable
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The building may be exposed to safety and compliance risks
For this reason, migration is required.
Need help?
If you have questions about this notice or your lift phone service, please contact the Pickle support team.