Telstra Coverage Footprint Shrinks 29% Under New ACMA Rules
Synopsis
Telstra’s reported mobile coverage area has dropped by nearly 29% under new ACMA standards that require consistent coverage measurements, while telecommunications providers must now publicly disclose network outages through a mandatory register.
Australia’s telecom regulator enforces strict mobile coverage measurement guidelines, reshaping how Telstra coverage is calculated, and making public reporting of service outages a legal requirement.
The new regulations, implemented on June 30 and impacting Telstra, Optus and TPG Telecom as advised by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA), ensure mobile operators use a common national standard to track and reveal their 4G and 5G coverage.
This requires carriers to update coverage maps every three months, using identical technical criteria when detailing accessible locations for dependable mobile reception.
Common Standard Changes Reported Coverage
The reformed method decreases Telstra’s declared coverage by about 29%, from 3 million square kilometers to 2.14 million.
This reduction reflects changes in measurement methods, not alterations in the actual network, now accounting only for areas where standard mobile devices can achieve a minimum signal strength of -115 dBm for calls, texts, and data.
Coverage is categorized in four bands: Good, Moderate, Basic, and No Coverage, enabling more accurate carrier comparisons. Optus coverage levels remained stable, but TPG Telecom reported 1.2 million square kilometers under the revised framework after an agreement with Optus to share regionally.
Outage Reporting Becomes a Regulatory Requirement
Previously, differences in how providers measured coverage hindered consumers, but the new ACMA regulations establish mandatory public outage registers for the entire Australian telecom sector.
This necessitates carriers publicly disclosing details about major service disruptions, including the duration, impact on services and geographic spread, and the likely causes.
"Mobile operators once used different measuring systems which made comparing coverage difficult for consumers," ACMA Chair Nerida O'Loughlin said, "This common reporting standard provides greater uniformity in reporting and more visibility over the reliability of each carrier’s network."
This shift comes in response to the growing dependence on mobile connectivity for businesses and households, along with a spotlight on telecommunications resilience due to prominent service disruptions recently.
According to ACMA's 2024-25 Trends and Developments in Telecommunications report, 5G rollout continues, and mobile data usage/demand for digital services remain on the rise, making clearer coverage information vital for users.
Source: Capital Brief
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Pooja Malik is a business journalist with over six years of experience covering startups, entrepreneurship, and emerging trends. She has previously worked with leading media platforms such as YourStory Media and BW BusinessWorld, where she reported on business, policy, and market developments. Currently, she serves as Editor at The Inspirepreneur Magazine, where she writes and edits stories across business, lifestyle, and travel, with a focus on clarity, accuracy, and reader relevance.
