What the retirement of ADSL and CAN Radio means for customers and the path to more reliable, future ready connectivity by 16 November 2027
Out in regional and remote Australia, connectivity isn't a "nice to have". It's how you call for help, check the weather before heading out, talk to a doctor, or let the kids join a class from the kitchen table. When the phone doesn't work or the internet drops out, it's felt straight away.
For many of those communities, ADSL and CAN Radio have been part of daily life for a long time. They've connected homes, farms and small towns for decades, often doing a quiet, dependable job in the background. But the truth is, these services were built for a different era and they're now being stretched well beyond what they were designed to do.
That's why Telstra has announced that we'll retire ADSL and CAN Radio by 16 November 2027 – not because connectivity matters less, but because it matters too much to rely on technology that's reaching the end of its life.
ADSL is an older broadband technology that delivers internet services over the copper telephone network, originally designed for voice calls rather than modern data use. As it is a data service, USO does not apply.
CAN Radio is a legacy fixed wireless voice service that uses radio technology to connect customers in remote and regional areas where traditional cabling isn't viable. It has played a critical role in keeping communities connected for decades, particularly in locations with limited infrastructure.
Think of ADSL and CAN Radio like a single lane road, built decades ago. When it first went in, it worked well. Traffic was light, expectations were different, and the road met the needs of the time.
But fast forward 20, 30 or even 40 years, and that same road is now showing its age. It's increasingly hard to repair, the parts to fix it are scarce, and the specialist skills needed to keep it running are getting harder to find. Breakdowns happen more often, and the whole thing really needs a complete upgrade to meet today's needs and the way people live now.
You can keep patching potholes, or you can build safer, more reliable roads that are designed for today's traffic.
Stronger and more reliable options including NBN, 4G and 5G Fixed Wireless, and satellite are now widely available, giving people faster speeds, quicker fixes when something goes wrong, and a more stable connection overall.
At the same time, ADSL and CAN Radio are reaching the end of their practical life. Much of the equipment behind these services is decades old, replacement parts are increasingly difficult to source, and repairs are taking longer than they should. Connectivity matters too much to rely on ageing technology that's now at the limits of what is reasonable and responsible to maintain.
That's why we're preparing to move on from these older technologies — and we know how we do this is just as important as the change itself. We're taking the time to listen more closely, learning directly from customers about what they need, and using that feedback to make the transition as straightforward and supported as possible. With clearer guidance, ongoing conversations and help along the way.
We know this change will affect people differently depending on whether they're using ADSL or CAN Radio; and importantly, nothing changes overnight. Transitions are most successful when we work together, which is why we'll be in touch to outline the next steps and work closely with you to ensure your service is migrated smoothly and in a timely way.
Because ADSL and CAN Radio work differently, the transition will look different for each group.
For CAN Radio customers, we've taken a careful and considered approach to this change. Through a small-scale proof of concept, we tested how customers could transition away from this unique voice service, helping us better understand where people live, what they need, and how to minimise disruption. That process gave us time to learn, refine and strengthen our approach before making the decision to exit the technology.
With those learnings in mind, we'll work with customers one-on-one, supported by a dedicated case manager, to help move services to new technology. Phone numbers will stay the same, emergency access will remain available, and pricing will stay consistent throughout the transition.
One important difference is power: CAN Radio was powered through the network, but modern services — like most technology we rely on every day — require power at the home or business. While we don't provide the power supply itself, we're committed to helping customers understand what power they'll need. We'll continue to share clear, simple information so people know what to consider and what questions to ask. That's why we're giving plenty of notice, so customers have time to make informed decisions and take any necessary steps.
Another part of this transition is the upgrade of around 400 remote payphone sites, shifting them from voice-only CAN Radio services to satellite-enabled, which will provide Wi-Fi. This will create 400 new community Wi-Fi hotspots, helping connect and support local communities.
For ADSL customers, we'll continue speaking with you as we shape the transition, and we'll share options directly to help you understand what's available so you can choose a newer service that suits your home or business needs.
Connectivity isn't just about technology. It's about quality of life – being able to call or connect for help, learn, work, and stay connected to what matters.
By retiring ADSL and CAN Radio and moving to more modern services, we're taking an important step to make sure customers have reliable, future-ready connectivity not just for today, but for years to come.
CAN Radio stands for Customer Access Network Radio. There are a few technical 'point to point' and 'point to multipoint' technology types within CAN Radio, including:
SCARS/DCARS/MCARS — single, dual and multichannel radio systems, which connect one or more phone services directly to a nearby radio site.
HCRC — High Capacity Radio Concentrator systems, which connect many customers through a central radio hub.
ADSL stands for Asymmetric Digital Subscriber Line.
CAN Radio voice services are moving to a new, more reliable technology. This change will not affect how customers contact Triple Zero (000).
