Maximise your coverage.
Use our search tool to check what coverage and data speeds are available in your area. And while you’re here, you can also learn how to maximise your coverage.
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Coverage map
Maximise your coverage
Like any mobile network, coverage on the Telstra Mobile Network depends on where you are, the mobile handset, tablet or mobile broadband device you're using, and whether there’s an external antenna attached.
It's important to understand that different devices have different capabilities. How each device performs depends on network coverage and device type, make and settings. There are some important factors to consider when choosing a mobile device and any accessories:
- Where you'll be using your device – metropolitan areas, regional areas, rural areas, out at sea or indoors; and
- Whether you'll be using it:
- in handheld mode
- with a directly coupled car kit and an external antenna; or
- with a patch lead and an external antenna.
Things to know about network coverage
Blue Tick handsets for rural areas
Telstra Mobile Smart Antenna® 4G
Car-Kit and Yagi Antennas
Out to sea coverage
LTE Small Cells
Obstructions – such as buildings, vehicles, trees, hills and building materials – can all reduce the signal level available for your mobile handset, tablet or mobile broadband device. Indoor mobile coverage is susceptible to interference from the building you are in, and just as TV sets sometimes need external antennas to improve reception, there are cases where the use of an external antennas can make a significant difference to the performance of a mobile device indoors.
When you choose a ‘Blue Tick’ mobile phone, you can be sure that you’re experiencing the best possible coverage in regional and rural locations.
See our latest range of mobile handsets or visit your local Telstra store for assistance in choosing the best solution for your coverage needs.
Please note: Blue Tick qualification test is currently performed on mobile handsets only.
Telstra Mobile Smart Antenna® 4G
The Telstra Mobile Smart Antenna®4G is now available. This exciting new device is designed to extend indoor coverage for Telstra 3G and 4G/4GX mobile or mobile broadband services in Telstra Mobile network coverage areas. All you need is one spot within your home or office where you can make calls and connect your Smart Antenna 4G device.
Increased coverage can help you to:
• Make voice calls and access mobile broadband in more areas of your home or office
• Enjoy more reliable voice calling
• Experience more consistent mobile broadband data speeds (3G 850 MHz and 4G 700 & 1800 MHz)
This device is suitable for indoor use, for a family residence or small office. |
Benefits include:
- Easy installation: simply plug in the Network and Coverage unit into a standard 240V power supply.
- The LCD screen shows you how the Smart Antenna 4G device is working, helping you get the best possible coverage.
- Seamless coverage as you move between your extended 4G and nearby 3G/4G/4GX network coverage areas.
- Unlike similar devices, the Smart Antenna 4G device doesn’t need a fixed broadband connection.
- The Smart Antenna 4G device can help improve your battery life by reducing the need to search for coverage.
- Some smartphones and mobile broadband devices are 4GX-ready. Your compatible device will automatically use 4GX when using the Smart Antenna 4G whenever it’s available.
To use the Smart Antenna 4G device, all you need to do is:
- Be in a Telstra Mobile Network coverage area and pass our qualification checks
- Have a Telstra Mobile Network compatible mobile or mobile broadband device
- Have an active Telstra mobile or mobile broadband service
Please chat to us to find out if the Telstra Mobile Smart Antenna is the right solution for you (see ‘Contact us’).
If it is, they are available for purchase from $960 (GST exclusive). If you would like to spread that cost out over 24 months, just speak to us about our payment plan.
If the antenna does not fix your indoor reception issue, just call us within 14 days of purchase on the number we will provide you, and we will refund you for your undamaged device.
A range of external antennas are available that can provide improved coverage for certain mobile devices in areas where coverage is marginal. Even when you’re in an area where handheld coverage is possible, an external antenna solution may also improve the performance of your handset or broadband device.
Yagi or external antennas are most effective when mounted in the 'line of sight' of a mobile phone base station, or where the best signal is received. Depending on location and type of antenna used, this can be near a window, building rooftop, pole or other elevated structure. As with all antennas, the general rule when mounting is the higher the better. After the antenna has been fitted, it is connected directly to a mobile device, such as a broadband modem.
External antennas can also be used for vehicles when travelling or doing business in rural and remote areas, or along stretches of highways where coverage can be marginal. Vehicle external antennas are commonly attached to the handset via a car-kit or a patch-lead where a car-kit is not available.
See your local Telstra store for assistance with picking the best antenna option for you as well as help with installation.
Please note: Depending on device capability and available coverage, external antennas can improve 3G and 4G coverage on the Telstra Mobile Network. Not all external antennas allow direct connection to the handset or broadband device. Antenna accessories are only available for selected handset and broadband models. Please refer to the device manufacturer for specifications or visit a Telstra shop for assistance.
The Yagi antenna can be available for $290.00 (GST exclusive), or together with professional installation to most locations, $610.00 (ex GST). There may be additional charges if you live in remote locations, or the installation work required for your roof is non-standard.
Telstra's network can typically extend 20 to 70 km out to sea from mobile base stations located near the coast. However, there are many factors such as the weather, tides, sea conditions and your antenna installation (type and height above sea level) that can significantly influence coverage, data speed and performance. As a result, you must not rely on the Telstra Mobile Network as a primary method of communication at sea.
To assist with your mobile services at sea, you should use a directly connected external antenna – one that is omni-directional or a specialist marine antenna capable of 'tracking' to the best serving base station. The antenna should be mounted as high as possible on your vessel using marine-grade cabling and connections.
In order for a service at sea to work effectively, line of sight to the terrestrial base station is required. This is influenced by the height of the serving base station, land based obstructions and the general topography of the land, which can block signals. Coverage will not be reliable over the horizon from a mobile base station even though it may be usable at times.
We've created a short video to help you maximise your coverage while you're at sea:
Maximise your coverage while you're at sea
PlayA small cell is a miniature version of a standard base station and is traditionally used to boost coverage and capacity in densely populated urban areas.
In 2014, Telstra reworked the technology to launch small cells for 4G data / internet services in small regional and rural communities where a full sized base station would not be feasible.
At launch, small cells were unable to support 4G voice call capabilities, however recent technology developments have made 4G voice calls in small cell coverage areas a reality.
In fact the underlying technology that enables 4G voice calling on these cells can be further extended by customers using Voice over WiFi that supports seamless voice handover between outdoor 4G l coverage and an indoor WiFi connection where 4G coverage may not reach.
As part of its support of the Federal Government’s Mobile Black Spots program, Telstra has committed to funding up to 250 small cells during the overall program.
Your feedback
We're continuously extending and improving our mobile coverage but need your help to find network black spots. This is where we indicate there's mobile or mobile broadband coverage but if it doesn't perform to expectations (e.g. the line may drop out, reception is poor, or there may be little or no reception at all) let us know.
Before completing the form, please perform these basic troubleshooting checks.
Coverage Disclaimers
Mobile device coverage depends on where you are, the device you are using and whether it has an external antenna attached.
You should be aware that the Telstra mobile coverage maps displayed have been created using tools that predict the likely areas of outdoor coverage. We have not individually tested every particular location within the identified coverage areas for coverage, nor any indoor locations. This means that while the footprint of coverage outlined on the maps is generally accurate, there will be specific areas described as being within a coverage area where your device will not work. This is a common characteristic of wireless systems. For example, actual coverage could be degraded or not existent in specific locations due to certain physical structures or geographic features or as a result of the device used. Physical structures which may block or inhibit coverage could include basements, lifts, underground car parks, concrete buildings, tunnels and road cuttings. The specific nature of building materials used in an office or dwelling also impacts on the coverage within, with some materials such as steel framing and metallic window films having a significant impact on coverage within a building. Geographic features which may block or inhibit coverage could include formations such as hills and mountains or even trees.
Data speeds experienced on Telstra's mobile networks may be affected by network availability, the type and configuration of customer equipment, or device used, the performance of external networks (for example the Internet), the signal strength at the device used, and other factors such as the type of application.
The offshore coverage shown is only indicative of where a device may operate. Factors beyond Telstra's control such as the weather, tides, sea conditions and your antenna installation (type and height of antenna above sea level) can significantly influence the actual user experience of coverage, data speed and performance. Public mobile networks must not be relied upon as a primary method of emergency communication at sea.
The Telstra Mobile Network offers 4GX in all capital CBDs and selected suburban and regional areas and is progressively rolling out to more places. In other coverage areas around Australia, you’ll automatically switch to our fastest available 4G or 3G.
Typical download speeds in 4GX areas are 5-300Mbps with Category 16 devices, 5-200Mbps with category 11 devices, 5-150Mbps with category 9 devices, 2-100Mbps with category 6 devices and 2-75Mbps with category 4 devices. Outside 4GX areas, you will switch to our fastest available 4G or 3G speeds.