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
The U10 Pro Range redefines what a top‑tier full‑size UTV can be, launching a bold new era for the UFORCE family — now offered in three distinct models.
Family owned company Australian Farm and Fencing, located in Wagga Wagga NSW, is on a mission to help more and more Australian farmers recognise what is widely considered the world's best soil restorative or premium organic fertiliser: vermicast.
Invasive woody weeds steal your pasture. Method helps you take it back.
Australian farmers choose Bioflora for real results: sustainable roots, soil‑and‑plant biology that works, and a company genuinely committed to supporting growers’ season after season. 
Adding hectares isn’t the only business growth strategy for farmers. Smarter landforming can recover margin, improve efficiency, and deliver quicker returns — whether automation is on your agenda or not. 
As sheep producers adopt electronic identification, many are focusing on systems that keep work flowing in the yards and deliver value beyond compliance. For producers, the real benefit of EID is simple: faster yard work, more reliable reads, and cleaner flock records — all without adding extra steps. 
