Telstra to Replace Radio Phone System with Satellite Service by November 2027, Shifting Backup Power Responsibility to Customers

Telstra will phase out its Customer Access Network radio phone system by November 2027 and replace it with satellite technology. The company said the existing equipment has become increasingly unreliable and difficult to repair. Fixed connectivity executive Marty McGrath stated that the manufacturer no longer produces the equipment and that spares cannot be sourced.

He added that customers who have already switched reported stronger performance from the new system after extensive testing by Telstra. Residents with 4G or 5G coverage will receive a modem during the transition. Customers in other areas will have a satellite dish installed on their roof that connects to a modem with a phone attached.

Existing phone numbers will remain unchanged, emergency calling will stay available, and there will be no cost or price change for the service. The CAN Radio system has operated for more than 40 years with solar backup power supplied by Telstra. The new satellite setup requires customers to provide their own power, including backup supply.

Telstra also plans to phase out ADSL service by the same November 2027 date. Kate Ashton, who lives at Mount Coolon about 250 kilometres west of Mackay, said the solar backup at her local tower enabled a helicopter response after her daughter's quad bike accident in 2014.

Nearby resident Amanda Clark noted that starting a generator during an outage would add time before connectivity could be restored.