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Telstra Faces Massive Coverage Cut Under New Rules
9 Mar
Summary
- Telstra may lose 1 million sq km of claimed mobile coverage.
- New standard mandates reliable call capability for coverage.
- Telstra disagrees with ACMA's proposed coverage definition.
A proposed regulatory standard is set to significantly reduce Telstra's claimed mobile coverage by about 1 million square kilometres. This area, larger than New South Wales, will be affected under the Australian Communications and Media Authority's (ACMA) proposed Mobile Network Coverage Maps Standard 2026. The new standard aims to create a uniform definition of mobile coverage across all carriers.
Currently, each telecommunications company defines its coverage independently. However, the ACMA's proposal mandates that coverage must mean a reliable call can be made using a standard smartphone. This approach has garnered support from TPG Telecom, Optus, and the Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN).
Telstra is the sole major telco opposing the ACMA's proposed threshold. The company prefers a weaker definition that would maintain its current, more extensive coverage footprint. This disagreement highlights a fundamental difference in how coverage is defined, with the regulator emphasizing functional connectivity.
