Consumer advocates are calling for a higher baseline internet speed, NBN Co reports record fibre upgrade numbers, TPG Telecom overcomes a major data centre outage, and the government sets its sights on expanding basic mobile voice and SMS services using LEOsat technology.
ACCAN Presses NBN Co to Make 50Mbps Its Basic Tier
The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has renewed its call for a faster entry-level broadband speed, urging NBN Co to raise the minimum service from 25Mbps to 50Mbps. In a response to a consultation paper on regulatory changes for FY26 to FY29, ACCAN criticized NBN Co’s heavy focus on multi-gigabit plans—plans that, according to the advocacy body, are unlikely to resonate with most consumers.
“In ACCAN’s view, increasing internet speeds for consumers means raising the baseline quality of service that all Australian consumers can access,” the group stated. ACCAN noted that despite NBN Co’s acknowledgment that 50Mbps is currently its most popular tier, many entry-level users remain on slower plans. The group recommended that NBN Co not only increase the speed but also consider reducing prices for these basic plans, ensuring that the majority of Australians aren’t left behind as the network evolves.
NBN Co’s Fibre Upgrades Reach Record High
NBN Co has achieved a significant milestone, upgrading more than 594,000 premises to full fibre as of December 31—an increase that includes over 217,000 upgrades in just the last six months of 2024. This remarkable pace far exceeds the previous half-year’s figure of approximately 375,000 upgrades and positions the provider well ahead of its 300,000 upgrades per annum target for FY25 and FY26. In fact, the accelerated pace could even challenge its elevated target of 500,000 upgrades per year, originally expected by FY27.
Chief customer officer Anna Perrin explained that the surge is driven by several factors, including aggressive deployment into streets, enhanced consumer awareness, and a targeted program to transition customers from underperforming copper lines to fibre. “One of the really pleasing things in that program is we’ve seen that even though we’ve taken away the requirement, 41 percent of all those customers are choosing a higher speed tier even though they don’t have to,” Perrin noted. Meanwhile, chief network officer Dion Ljubanovic highlighted that the fibre overbuild work is progressing ahead of schedule, boosting market confidence among retailers and end users alike.
TPG Telecom Recovers After Data Centre Outage
TPG Telecom experienced a significant disruption on Monday evening following a failure of both mains and backup power at its AAPT data centre in Forest Lodge, Sydney. The outage, which affected both consumer and business customers—especially in NSW and the ACT—occurred just hours after a severe storm triggered flash flooding and power interruptions across the city.
In a statement posted on social media, TPG Telecom attributed the incident to “a storm-related power outage and generator failure” and confirmed that the vast majority of customer services have now been restored. Customers experiencing residual issues have been advised to reboot their customer premises equipment. During the incident, NBN Co clarified that the outage was not on its network, even as its status page experienced temporary load issues due to a surge in web traffic.
Voice and SMS Services to be Included in Universal Service Obligation Under Labor Re-Election Pledge
In a bold move aimed at modernising Australia’s universal service framework, the government is preparing to legislate a requirement for mobile telcos to offer direct-to-device voice and SMS services nationwide using LEOsat technology. Communications Minister Michelle Rowland announced that the “universal outdoor mobile obligation” (UOMO) is slated for legislative introduction in 2025, with expectations that outdoor mobile coverage will be fully operational by late 2027—though early service availability remains a possibility.
The new policy is designed to enhance emergency response, including improved Triple Zero access, and bolster mobile connectivity during disasters and power outages. Rowland also indicated that future considerations might extend to basic mobile data services once technological roadmaps and capacity analyses are finalised. While both Telstra and Optus have already taken preliminary steps towards LEOsat-based services—with Optus recently delaying its commercial launch—the government’s proposal represents a significant push towards comprehensive, nationwide mobile coverage that leaves no Australian behind.