Around 80% of our mobile base stations that were affected are now back online and delivering coverage to their communities and we have restored nearly 75% of landline services (excluding nbn). We have also brought more than half the number communities that were in isolation back online.
More power outages, likely due to severe weather late yesterday, have affected a small number of sites in northern NSW. We have more than 1,100 technicians and staff on the ground working to restore services and more are on standby from other states if necessary.
Many areas are still inaccessible, however, due to flood waters and road infrastructure damage, or are without power – and we need both to assess whether there has been any damage to our network. Unfortunately, we have found significant damage to some of our network, which will take time to fix.
We are working with power companies and local authorities to access the affected areas so we can get to work to bring services back online. We are also working with nbn co to ensure our nbn customers’ services are restored as soon as possible.
The communities of The Channon, Mullumbimby, Koonorigan, Ocean Shores, Pillar Valley, Jiggi, Stokers Siding, Uki, Modanville, Ulmarra, Tucabia, Wooli, Duranbah, Kingscliff, Whian Whian, Main Arm, Woodburn, Tyalgum may be isolated. There are now no communities isolated in SE Queensland.
With significant rainfall and flood waters causing damage, disruption and displacement across south-east Queensland and northern New South Wales, we’ve activated an assistance package for our customers as well as enabling free Telstra Air Wi-Fi access where possible. Our retail stores across these regions will also be closed until the situation eases and is safe to re-open.
It’s been a terrible few days for many, and unfortunately it’s not over yet. Our thoughts are with everyone affected and we’re here to help.
Payphones in the area are already able to make free local and national calls to standard fixed line numbers and free calls to standard Australian mobile numbers, after we made payphones free in August 2021. During this flooding situation, we will also be allowing free use of the Telstra Air Wi-Fi network at locations where payphones are equipped to provide this.
If you’ve been displaced from your home during this disaster, we’ve activated an assistance package that gives our customers both short and long-term measures to help out. That assistance can range from extra data on your mobile and free call diversions to a one-off credit to help cover the cost of getting a fixed phone service back up and running.
Our assistance package also gives Telstra customers access to free and interim services during short-term impacts from damaging weather, with long-term measures also available for customers who have suffered severe damage or loss of their homes and businesses.
For customers who have been displaced from their residence or business during a natural disaster event, short-term assistance can include:
The long-term assistance package includes:
To access this assistance, all you need to do is add your details in this long-term assistance package application form and you will have them automatically applied to your account. Alternatively, you can call us on 1800 888888 and we can talk you through it.
