Telstra cuts one million square km under new rules forcing telcos to provide accurate coverage maps

Telstra has been forced to cut its coverage map by one million square kilometres under strict new rules introduced by the regulator, requiring telcos to publish accurate mobile network coverage maps.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) requires Telstra, Optus and TPG Telecom (Vodafone) to publish standardised maps showing 4G and 5G coverage across Australia as good, moderate, basic or no coverage by June 30.

Under the new rules, areas with a mobile signal less than -115dbm in strength will be considered no coverage, while users may be able to make calls and send SMS the service will be limited, inconsistent or non-existent.

Good coverage areas will have seamless connectivity and performance of voice calls, SMS and data communication.

Communications Minister Anika Wells said people should know what they’re getting when they sign-up with a provider and make informed decisions about the services they rely on.

“There are longstanding problems with the quality and comparability of mobile coverage maps published by the telcos, and the Government is putting a stop to this mess,” she said.

While Telstra supported the changes it noted during consultation the -115dBm threshold would remove about one million square kilometres - an area greater than the size of NSW - of coverage from its maps.

Optus and TPG Telecom considered – 115dBm as a bare minimum and did not believe reliable coverage could be achieved below that level.

TPG Telecom told media: “ACMA says coverage should mean your phone works. Telstra wants coverage to mean your phone might sometimes show a bar but probably can’t make a call.”

ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said network coverage maps were measured and presented differently between mobile providers, frustrating consumers and making it impossible to make any meaningful comparison between them.

“These new rules will ensure every carrier is giving the public a like-for-like comparison of service coverage in any location across Australia,” she said.