Telstra has taken a significant step forward by becoming the first carrier to initiate a simulation of emergency roaming on its mobile network, a move endorsed by the ACCC just a week ago for use in cases of natural disasters.
Addressing the challenges surrounding the implementation of emergency roaming, Telstra acknowledged the increasing frequency and severity of natural disasters, prompting discussions among both industry and government stakeholders. The primary technical concern lies in ensuring that incoming traffic from other carriers’ customers does not overwhelm the destination network.
To kickstart this initiative, Telstra will commence by simulating roaming on its own network. Simultaneously, the company has announced additional initiatives related to natural disaster response. Among them, customers located in disaster-affected areas and subscribed to monthly mobile plans will receive an extra 100GB of data free of charge, within 30 days.
Furthermore, Telstra plans to enhance the resilience of its services in regional and remote areas by equipping 1,000 payphones with batteries, allowing them to remain functional for longer periods during natural disasters. According to Steve Tinker, Telstra Response Team Lead, these upgraded payphones will offer essential services, including free Wi-Fi and USB charging ports. The payphone upgrades have already commenced and are expected to be completed by mid-2025.
