Temporary Disaster Roaming

If TDR is activated and your device is able to connect to an available participating network, your phone may connect automatically. You may notice the network name on your phone changes to something like “Disaster Roaming” or the name of the alternate carrier, such as “Optus” or “Telstra”. The exact display may vary depending on your device, but no action is required from you to connect.

Where TDR is available and your device successfully connects to a participating network, the service is intended to support making and receiving calls, including to mobile numbers and landlines, as well as sending and receiving text messages. If you’re calling a landline, don’t forget to include the area code. This is in addition to the ability to call Triple Zero, which is a functionality that’s already built into mobile phones today and is different to TDR.

You may also be able to access a limited range of data services, including WhatsApp messaging, weather updates and emergency information apps. The availability of these services may vary depending on network capacity and conditions at the time. To reduce the stress it would put on the supporting network, some data services may be limited or operate at reduced speeds. These measures are intended to help maintain network availability and support connectivity for as many people as possible during a disaster, including to help stay in touch with loved ones, to get up to the minute warnings, evacuation orders and other kinds of disaster assistance.

Possibly. The priority during TDR is to protect the supporting network from becoming overloaded. The experience may differ depending on network conditions and whether you’re using your usual network or temporarily connected to another network through TDR.

If you’re using your usual network, you may experience slower speeds during periods of high demand. If you’re connected through TDR, data speeds may be limited to a basic level to help manage demand on the supporting network. This means simple tasks like checking a weather update, loading a map or opening a website may take longer than usual or may not always be available.

Networks are closely monitored so the service may be adjusted, restricted or switched off where necessary to help protect available network capacity and reduce the risk of wider service disruption.

Yes, you’ll continue to be charged in line with your existing Telstra mobile or prepaid plan, just as you normally would. While your phone may temporarily connect to another network during a disaster, you’ll still be treated as a Telstra customer.

TDR is intended to support connectivity during eligible natural disasters when your usual network is unavailable, so there are no additional roaming charges for using the service.

TDR may only be activated in certain localised disaster-affected areas for a short, specified duration where technical and operational requirements are met. It can only work in regional and rural locations where there is unique Telstra coverage or overlapping coverage from another mobile network. Metropolitan areas are excluded. There are also limits on how many areas can be active at once, and how close they can be to each other.

TDR is designed to be run for short periods – typically around 24 hours at a time. If the natural disaster continues and people still need support to help stay connected, the activation period may be extended if it can continue to be deployed safely and effectively. Once the height of a disaster has passed or where operational or network requirements change, TDR is switched off and networks return to normal.

Natural disasters can evolve quickly. While TDR is active, networks are continuously monitored. If conditions worsen, for example due to power loss or increased demand, TDR settings may need to be adjusted, restricted or switched off to help protect the supporting network and reduce the risk of broader service disruption.

TDR is intended to support connectivity during the most critical stages of a natural disaster. As network services are restored and operational conditions change, the service may be switched off so it can remain available for other natural disaster events occurring across Australia.

TDR may only be switched on where certain technical and operational conditions are met, including where there is at least one participating network still in operation. Often with prolonged power outages or actual physical damage from a disaster, all three carrier networks in an area will ultimately be disrupted and in such cases temporary disaster roaming won’t be possible.

TDR is subject to operational, technical and regulatory limits. It may be activated in up to three disaster-affected areas across Australia at the same time. Each area can include up to 15 mobile sites, and active disaster areas must be at least 400 kilometres apart. 

Safety is a critical priority when considering TDR activation. Before TDR is switched on, the supporting network must have enough capacity to support the additional traffic. TDR will only be activated when it is safe and the available network can manage the extra demand, given that anyone can use the supporting network to make emergency calls.

If you enter a TDR area and your usual network isn’t available, your phone may be able to connect to an alternate participating network through TDR, subject to network availability, device compatibility and operational conditions. For many compatible devices, this process may occur automatically.

If you leave a TDR area, any call you’re already on should continue as long as coverage is available. However, call continuity cannot be guaranteed. Once the call ends, your phone will automatically reconnect to your usual network once it becomes available, so you don’t need to do anything.

If you move into an area with no mobile coverage from any network, your call will likely disconnect and you may be unable to make or receive calls, send texts or use data until coverage becomes available again.

TDR may be available to eligible customers of Telstra, Optus and TPG customers, as well as customers of brands that use those networks.

Many mobile phones may be capable of accessing TDR. To access TDR, your device needs to support VoLTE roaming (Voice over LTE). VoLTE roaming is available on all Telstra-launched handsets from 2022 onwards. If you have an older device, you can check whether it’s compatible with VoLTE .

If your handset doesn’t support VoLTE roaming, TDR may not be available. This does not change the existing emergency calling arrangements. You may still be able to make emergency calls to Triple Zero using another available mobile network, subject to network availability and device capability.

Usually, no. For many customers, TDR services may be available without any changes to their device settings.

On some older devices, you may need to turn on data roaming to access data services while connected through TDR. If data roaming is turned off, you’ll still be able to make calls and send texts.

Newer Apple devices and Samsung devices running Android 16+ support TDR data services without requiring international roaming to be enabled.

No. The ability to call Triple Zero is a functionality that’s already built into mobile phones today and does not rely on TDR. Australians can already call Triple Zero from any available mobile network via a process referred to as ‘camp on’. If a customer can’t connect to Triple Zero via their own provider, their phone will automatically connect to another available network to make an emergency call.

AusAlert is the new national warning system that will be used to send alerts to mobile devices in the event of an emergency.

AusAlert will continue to operate regardless of whether Temporary Disaster Roaming (TDR) is activated or not.

Please note Emergency Alert (EA) SMS messages will continue to be delivered to customers on their usual network. However, EA SMS messages will not be delivered to customers who are connected through TDR, to help manage capacity on the supporting network during a natural disaster.

No. TDR is intended to support connectivity on compatible smartphones during eligible natural disasters. Medical alert devices and other IoT-connected devices are not compatible with, or able to access, TDR. If you rely on a medical alert device, it’s important to continue following your provider’s advice and keep any existing emergency backup arrangements in place.

No. There is currently no opt-out option for TDR.