A major Telstra mobile network outage is disrupting services across Australia this morning, affecting mobile calls, data, regional trains, EFTPOS terminals and some emergency call access. Telstra says it is investigating the issue as a priority, while authorities urge people to check on vulnerable family members, neighbours and co-workers.
Major outage hits Telstra mobile network
Australia is facing a major telecommunications disruption after Telstra’s mobile network suffered a widespread outage on Wednesday morning.
Thousands of customers have reported phones showing no signal, “SOS only” or satellite emergency options, with many unable to make calls or use mobile data. Reports began rising early in the morning, with Downdetector showing a sharp spike from around 4am to 6am AEST. Telstra has acknowledged an issue affecting “some mobile calls and data connections” and says it is working to restore services.
The company has advised customers to try connecting again if calls or data fail, saying some services may work on a retry. Fixed internet services, including NBN, are not believed to be affected.
V/Line trains stopped across Victoria
One of the most serious impacts is on public transport.
Victoria’s regional rail operator V/Line has suspended all regional train services because of a radio network fault linked to the outage. Passengers have been told to defer travel where possible, with no confirmed time for full restoration.
The disruption has left trains halted and passengers facing limited replacement coach services. The outage shows how deeply mobile and radio communications are now embedded in Australia’s transport infrastructure.
NSW train services also affected
The disruption is not limited to Victoria.
Reports indicate that some NSW train services have also been affected, including services between Newcastle and Maitland and between Campbelltown and Moss Vale/Goulburn. News.com.au reported that the Telstra outage is affecting services across major cities and impacting transport systems, businesses and providers operating on the Telstra network.
EFTPOS terminals and businesses hit
The outage is also affecting payments.
Some EFTPOS terminals relying on mobile 4G connections are unable to process transactions. Payment provider Tyro, used by tens of thousands of Australian businesses, has been affected, forcing some merchants to switch to Wi-Fi, ethernet or cash-only payments where possible.
For cafes, retailers, taxis, service stations and small businesses, even a few hours of disrupted EFTPOS access can mean lost sales, longer queues and frustrated customers.
Other providers on Telstra network also down
The impact extends beyond Telstra’s own customers.
Mobile providers that use the Telstra network — including Belong, Boost Mobile, Aldi Mobile, Everyday Mobile, Tangerine, More, Superloop and Exetel — are also being reported as affected.
That means many customers may be affected even if they are not direct Telstra subscribers.
Triple Zero concerns in Western Australia
The most sensitive issue is access to emergency calls.
Western Australia Police said the outage may affect some Telstra users’ ability to make calls, including calls to Triple Zero (000), and urged people to support vulnerable family members, friends, neighbours and co-workers during the disruption. Police communications systems themselves are not affected.
The Albanese government says it has been advised by Telstra of an outage affecting a large number of mobile calls and connections. Acting Communications Minister Kristy McBain said Australian phones are required to fall back to other networks for 000 access where possible.
Emergency fallback rules under scrutiny
Australia introduced stronger emergency call rules after previous telco failures.
The Australian Communications and Media Authority says new rules that began on 1 November 2025 require telcos to prevent their network facilities from blocking emergency call “camp-on” functionality during outages, allowing emergency calls to be carried by another available mobile network where possible.
This outage will likely renew scrutiny of how well those rules work in practice, especially when customers see “SOS only” but remain uncertain whether an emergency call will connect.
Telstra has not confirmed the cause
At this stage, Telstra has not publicly confirmed the cause of the outage or provided a firm restoration time.
The company says it is investigating the issue as a priority and will provide updates once the problem is fixed. Telstra’s outage page provides information on current and restored outages, estimated fix times and advice on staying connected during service interruptions.
A critical infrastructure failure
This is no longer just a phone problem.
The outage has affected transport, payments, business operations and potentially emergency access. It is a reminder that mobile networks are now critical national infrastructure, supporting not only private communication but also public transport, commerce, emergency response and daily economic activity.
When a major mobile network fails, parts of the country slow down with it.
Customers urged to use alternatives
Until the network is restored, affected customers should use Wi-Fi calling, fixed internet, landlines or another carrier where available.
People who may not have access to an alternative phone should make arrangements with neighbours, family or friends so they can reach emergency services if needed. Authorities are also urging Australians to check on vulnerable people who may be isolated during the outage.
The situation remains live and developing. Telstra is under pressure to explain what happened, how many customers and services were affected, and when full service will return.
