A mass recall of a widely sold children’s walkie-talkie model has been rolled out across Australia after a critical manufacturing oversight left the devices operating on radio frequencies legally reserved exclusively for licensed communication operators. The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) announced the public recall for Anko brand Long Range Walkie-Talkies, which were distributed through major national retail chains Kmart and Target. The affected units were sold between September 30, 2013, and February 6 of this year, putting tens of thousands of household devices potentially in violation of Australian communication regulations.
According to ACMA’s official statement released Friday, a simple but consequential oversight during product configuration left the walkie-talkies calibrated to operate on the 467.425 MHz frequency band. This specific spectrum is designated as a licensed private band, reserved for use only by certified radio operators who have gone through official regulatory approval to operate on that range. The regulator has urged all consumers who purchased the affected devices to immediately cease use, warning that unlicensed operation on this frequency can create harmful, unintended interference for licensed services that rely on the band for critical communications.
Retail partners Kmart and Target have backed the recall effort, confirming that any customer who returns the recalled walkie-talkies to any of their Australian store locations will receive a full refund, no receipt required for most cases. ACMA also noted that continued unlicensed use of the devices not only creates interference risks but could also put users at risk of violating federal communication laws, which carry penalties for unauthorized spectrum use in Australia. The recall comes as regulators across the country continue to crack down on misconfigured consumer communication devices that encroach on licensed frequency bands, a growing issue as more consumer-connected devices hit the market.