What’s happening to CAN Radio and ADSL services?
We’re exiting our CAN Radio and ADSL services by 16 November 2027. Find out what this change means for you, next steps and how we’re here to support you.
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What are CAN Radio and ADSL?
Customer Access Network Radio (CAN Radio)
CAN Radio is a voice service delivered over a radio network for customers in remote locations, using antennas, shelters and solar panels.
There are several ‘point-to-point' and 'point-to-multipoint’ technology types within CAN Radio, including:
- SCARS, DCARS and MCARS, which are single, dual and multi‑channel radio systems that connect one or more phone services directly to a nearby radio site
- High‑Capacity Radio Concentrator (HCRC) systems, which connect many customers through a central radio hub.
ADSL
ADSL is a copper-based broadband technology that delivers internet via phone lines.
What's changing?
As part of a move away from ageing technology, we’re exiting our CAN Radio and ADSL services.
Customers using these services will need to transition to more secure, resilient, and future-ready connectivity options before the exit date.
Why is this happening?
The technology supporting CAN Radio and ADSL is more than 40 years old and is no longer reliable or suitable for modern connectivity needs.
Newer networks are more secure, easier to maintain, and better equipped to provide the level of reliability customers expect today.
What do I need to do?
There’s no action required right now.
We’ll contact impacted customers in the coming months with information about the service exit, the most suitable alternative, and the support available to help move to a new service.
If you’d like to understand which options may be available at your address sooner, you can check your address.
Frequently asked questions
CAN Radio
Migration and setup
Changes may need to be made to your phone service plan during the migration. Our team will advise you of any plan and pricing changes during the migration process. Every effort will be made to ensure that you are moved to an equivalent plan.
Yes. As part of the CAN Radio migration, we’ll advise you of any equipment requirements.
We’ll provide the equipment and organise installation by a field technician if required.
We’ll connect you to the new service with a temporary phone number.
Once setup is complete, we’ll transfer your existing phone number and disconnect the old service. This process may take up to 3 business days, during which you can use the temporary number for calls.
Yes, you can keep your existing phone number.
Once your new service is connected, we’ll move your phone number across and disconnect the old service.
During the transition, you’ll have a temporary number so you can continue to make and receive calls.
If you have any third-party devices that rely on your existing home phone service, including medical alarms, security alarms, fire alarms, teletypewriters, fax, or EFTPOS, you’ll need to consult directly with the third-party provider to set up devices with your new home phone service.
Your existing MessageBank will not be transferred to the new home phone service and will be permanently deleted. You won't have access to old messages.
You can learn how to set up MessageBank on your new plan, or call us on 13 22 00.
When your CAN Radio service is disconnected, any linked subscription services will also end. If you are in a trial or offer period, it will be lost.
To restart the subscription service, please contact the subscription service provider directly.
To migrate from CAN Radio, your power source must support 230–240V. This can be mains power, solar, a generator, or a UPS. The supply of power is your responsibility.
If you no longer need the service, you can contact us and we can cancel it for you. No cancellation charges will apply.
Telstra will continue to manage the CAN Radio infrastructure in line with our asset management plan, where applicable.
If infrastructure reaches end of life or has significant structural issues, it may be removed, as is done today under standard business as usual processes.
Costs and payments
Telstra will provide the equipment and organise installation by a field technician if required.
Some customers may need to move to a different plan if they take up a data service.
Some customers may need to change their payment method.
Our team will explain our range of payment options available.
ADSL
Yes. There’s no urgency to move at this stage, ADSL services will continue until November 2027.
If you’d prefer to move earlier and a suitable alternative is available at your address, you can choose to transition at any time.
To find out what options are available, you can check your address.
It depends on the service available at your address.
If you move to nbn® Fixed Wireless, your monthly cost can stay the same as your current ADSL plan if you choose a comparable plan and speed tier.
If nbn Fixed Wireless isn’t available and you move to Telstra Satellite Internet (powered by Starlink), the monthly cost will be higher. In these cases, we plan to offer a time-limited credit to help cover most of the price difference.
We’ll share details of any available credits directly with you when we contact you.
Some customers may be eligible for equipment and professional installation. We’ll share details of eligibility when we contact you directly.
If you move to nbn Fixed Wireless or Telstra Satellite Internet (powered by Starlink), your plan includes a voice service, and your existing phone number moves with you.
We’re not exiting copper PSTN voice services. If you want to keep your phone service on copper PSTN, you’ll need to buy a standalone Home or Business Phone plan.
You can choose which service uses your existing phone number.
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