I had heard about it because my son had a Samsung and replaced it.

Google AI says:

Some older Samsung phones have an issue that may prevent them from calling 000, because they cannot connect to back-up mobile networks. Affected users will be contacted by their mobile provider with instructions to update or replace their phone, and they should act quickly to ensure this issue is resolved. While some devices need a software update, others, such as the Galaxy S6 and Note 5, require replacement.