Telstra Announces Major Mobile Network Outages in WA's Goldfields and South Coast
Telstra customers in key Western Australian regions are being warned of significant mobile service disruptions as the telecommunications giant undertakes essential network upgrades. The planned outages will affect areas around Kalgoorlie-Boulder and Esperance, with some locations facing service interruptions lasting up to 50 hours.
Kalgoorlie-Boulder Area Outage Schedule
Residents and businesses near Mt Charlotte in Kalgoorlie-Boulder will experience the most extensive disruptions. The planned outages include:
- Four-hour outages scheduled for February 2 and twice on February 7
- Ten-hour outages planned for February 3, 4, and 6
- Eight-hour outage on February 5
This cumulative disruption means some users could be without reliable mobile service for approximately 50 hours during the upgrade period.
North Esperance Service Interruptions
Meanwhile, North Esperance residents will face their own service challenges with:
- Four-hour outages on February 9 and 12
- Eight-hour outages on February 10 and 11
These interruptions will result in approximately 24 hours of total service disruption for the North Esperance community.
Nature of Service Disruptions
The outages will vary in their impact on users. Some periods will see complete loss of all mobile services, while other times may only experience intermittent blackouts and reduced network performance as technicians conduct the necessary site work. Telstra has emphasized that these disruptions are unavoidable during the upgrade process.
Telstra's Upgrade Rationale and Future Benefits
Telstra regional general manager Boyd Brown explained that the work focuses on adding capacity to existing 4G mobile sites. "This essential upgrade will mean faster downloads, smoother streaming experiences, and less network congestion for our customers in these regions," Brown stated.
He further revealed that "the infrastructure work will also prepare these sites for future upgrades to our even faster 5G network, ensuring these communities stay connected with the latest telecommunications technology."
Minimizing Disruption and Safety Measures
Brown assured customers that Telstra would only switch off sites when absolutely necessary and would restore services as quickly as possible. The company has provided several recommendations for customers to minimize inconvenience:
- Enable wi-fi calling in phone settings to maintain call and text capability during outages
- Emergency calls to triple-0 will automatically connect to other available mobile networks
- Plan important communications around the scheduled outage times
Recent Network Improvements
These upcoming outages follow recent Telstra upgrades completed just two weeks prior to the Kalgoorlie-Boulder suburb of Lamington West. The consecutive upgrade schedule demonstrates Telstra's commitment to improving regional telecommunications infrastructure across Western Australia.
The extensive outage periods highlight the significant infrastructure work required to maintain and improve mobile networks in regional areas, with Telstra balancing necessary disruptions against long-term benefits for users in these communities.
