Mobile and Internet Access

Tasman Peninsula residents say poor telecommunications infrastructure is leading to delayed emergency responses and is hurting small businesses. The Albanese government has promised to rollout better coverage if re-elected.

Mobile voice and SMS connectivity would be extended across Australia under a Labor election pledge to update Australia's universal service obligation.

Community members have voiced concerns over the lack of mobile coverage in the Houtman Abrolhos, saying it impacts business development and endangers lives.

Small business owners in popular holiday towns say phones and EFTPOS often drop out during peak season, causing a real impact on their sales.

It is one of the most treacherous stretches of coast in Western Australia, so why has it taken so long to have mobile phone coverage improved?

Retailers in a small New South Wales town need to walk customers "down the street" to get connection for their EFTPOS machines, and a solution could be almost a year away.

Grant Vowles lives in regional Tasmania and used to be on the NBN until he switched to a satellite competitor due to frustratingly slow speeds. He'll wait and see if Labor's pledge to "finish" the network convinces him to switch back.

Residents of Oodnadatta, one of Australia's hottest towns, have suffered through two power outages this week as temperatures soared above 40 degrees Celsius.

It has been more than 80 days since Telstra and Optus flicked the switch on the 3G mobile network. Hundreds of regional and remote Australians say they can no longer rely on the network and struggle to make calls.

An internet wholesaler says copper vandals are to blame for a string of lengthy dropouts lasting up to 36 hours, but residents argue providers should have backup to keep networks connected. 

Firefighters battling blazes in Victoria's Grampians National Park say mobile phone reception was "nearly non-existent" and have called for better coverage on the fireground.

These days, just about everything is being done online. But new research highlights how hard that's making life for thousands of Australians still living without phone and internet.

Residents in the Queensland town of Collinsville say they can see a mobile tower from their home but struggle to make a phone call, so they rely on a free internet cafe to stay connected.

A web of 'delusional' regulatory decisions has essentially turned some perfectly good phones into e-waste.

Vodafone, Telstra and Optus have officially closed up shop on Australia's 3G network. Here's what will stop working from Monday.

Around 60,000 devices including mobile phones, medical devices and alarms will not work beyond October 28 when Optus and Telstra shut down their 3G networks and the government is urging people to be prepared. 

Phone and internet outages are causing chaos for tourism businesses at one of Queensland's most popular tourist spots, Magnetic Island.

The prime minister says the government will move to legislate the limit by the end of the year, but the minimum age is yet to be determined.

Regional residents are concerned the existing 4G network may put people in danger and won't be reliable once 3G is shutdown.

Brodie Harvey's newborn son had to be taken to hospital but he had no mobile reception to call for help.