1MG FlippingBooks
Telstra to improve landline services in rural and remote areas
Website Editor
This week Telstra has committed to improving the reliability of landline services for regional and remote customers, following the 2018 report of the Regional Telecommunications Review that identified extended faults and lengthy repair times as major issues for rural Australians.
“Landlines are a lifeline for many regional Australians and repeat faults and long repair timeframes are just not good enough and are significant pain points for those living in regional, rural and remote areas,” said Minister for Regional Services Bridget McKenzie. “For some, a landline service is their only connection to the outside world and can literally mean the difference between life and death.”
The work undertaken by Telstra will include repairing and replacing 1,000 of the worst performing landline cables in the country, moving 350 customers off the aging HCRC network and increasing stock levels of essential components to reduce repair time delays.
“This is a welcome first step in addressing regional connectivity challenges,” said Minister McKenzie. “I understand firsthand just how important a reliable landline is, particularly in areas with limited mobile coverage.”
The news of Telstra’s commitment was welcomed by farming peak bodies across the country, particularly in Queensland where recent natural disasters have tested communications infrastructure in rural areas.
“The recent North Queensland flood disaster highlighted that and proved that reliable landlines in the bush are critical,” said AgForce General President Georgie Somerset. “Farmers have long been frustrated about extended faults and repair times for landline services. Their landline is still the most reliable telecommunications option they have – often if there’s cloud cover satellite internet drops out and many of our members do not have reliable mobile coverage.
“There currently isn’t any reliable voice alternative for Australians living in rural and remote communities, which is why our landlines also need to be independent of other technology.”
You can find out more about Telstra’s program of work by clicking here.
NEWS
A grower focused event exploring practical science for stronger crops. Keynote speaker is Dr David Marks, Managing Director of Levity Crop Science. Wednesday, 13th August 2025.
Technical improvements have made locally engineered Draper Pickup Front the 'only one to buy'.
Central Steel Build is a leader in the design and construction of bespoke steel structures for agriculture and beyond. With 50 years of experience and a long list of pioneering achievements, it customises locally made, durable sheds for both on-farm use and across the agricultural supply chain, supporting clients from paddock to port. 
CEA, a leading provider of equipment to the agriculture, construction, mining, earthmoving, infrastructure, defence, waste management, mining, and recycling sectors, is pleased to announce a significant expansion of its business to include two new branch locations in Central Queensland: Rockhampton and Mackay (formerly Terrequipe). This strategic move emphasises CEA's unwavering commitment to growth while reinforcing its
Nature is still too complex for artificial intelligence (AI) modelling to be effective, but the tipping point is close, according to a new study that found the technology may still trip at the last real-world hurdle.
Feedlot cattle with access to grooming brushes are generally more content, sociable and have less stress, according to recent research out of Murdoch University’s Centre for Animal Production and Health.
