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Sick and tired of spotty mobile coverage? Aussies will soon have a more accurate way of comparing coverage between telcos, including in remote areas.
New industry rules published by the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) will require mobile network operators to switch to standardised coverage maps from mid 2026. Going forward, Telstra, Optus and Vodafone/TPG will need to provide customers with clear network maps that label 4G and 5G coverage as ‘good’, ‘moderate’ ‘basic’ or ‘no coverage’.
How network coverage maps will change this year
Right now, network coverage maps don’t reflect the true strength and availability of mobile signals, especially in regional areas. This can make comparing coverage difficult for customers: just because a telco’s 4G or 5G network is technically available, doesn’t mean that you’ll actually get a decent connection.
Beginning June 30, network maps must include updated and clear information on the actual coverage levels, not just whether a signal is present. Maps must label ‘predicted coverage levels’ for 4G and 5G signal strengths from the below options
Predicted coverage level | Description | Indicative user experience |
|---|---|---|
Good | You can expect a high-quality user experience with seamless connectivity and performance. | Voice: Very reliable connection with clear call quality. SMS: Messages send and arrive quickly with a high success rate. Data: Fast and stable data suitable for HD video (streaming, and video calls) and online games. |
Moderate | You can expect a stable and consistent user experience with minimal disruptions to connectivity and performance. | Voice: Reliable connection with clear call quality. SMS: Messages generally send and receive reliably. Data: Suitable for everyday activities and tasks like browsing and email. Supports higher-bandwidth applications such as video (streaming and calls) and online games. |
Basic | You can expect an adequate user experience with occasional disruptions to connectivity and performance. | Voice: Generally reliable but some calls may fail or drop. SMS: Messages generally send and receive, but delivery may occasionally be delayed. Data: Basic browsing and email usually work, but speeds may be slow. Higher-bandwidth applications like video (streaming and calls) and online games may not perform as well as at other coverage levels. |
No coverage | There is no, or only very limited, predicted coverage in these areas, so you should not expect or rely on any service. Any connection you may receive would be incidental, highly inconsistent and temporary, with very poor performance. | Voice: Most call attempts are likely to fail. SMS: Messages unlikely to be delivered. Data: Unreliable or unavailable. |
Source: Telecommunications (Mobile Network Coverage Maps) Industry Standard 2026.
‘Good’ coverage would apply to regions where signal strength is greater than or equal to -95 decibel milliwatts (dBm), while signals less than -115 dBm would be labelled as ‘no coverage’. The closer to 0 dBm, the stronger the wireless signals, so regions with -95 dBm would likely experience a better connection.
According to the ACMA, the new standard maps will be based on predictive modelling and reviewed and updated at least once every three months. Telstra, Optus and Vodafone/TPG must publish maps on their own websites, as well as provide accurate coverage maps to Mobile Virtual Network Operators (MVNOs) — the smaller telcos that buy wholesale access to the three mobile networks.
“Mobile providers make available network coverage maps, but they are measured and presented differently,” ACMA Chair Nerida O’Loughlin said.
“We know that consumers are frustrated that, as a result, they can’t make any meaningful comparison between them.
“These new rules will ensure every carrier is giving the public a like-for-like comparison of service coverage in any location across Australia.”
As of 2026, Telstra claims its network reaches around 99.7% of Australians, with its wholesale coverage available to 98.8%. This puts it slightly ahead of competitors Optus and Vodafone/TPG, who report 98.5% and 98.4% population coverage respectively.
Why the changes could mislead regional Australians
What’s causing controversy is that, under this new standard, Telstra will be required to label a significant chunk of its current regional coverage as ‘no coverage’. Telstra says that although the mobile signal in these areas is under -115 dBm, over 1.5 million customers actually use this coverage each month for voice calls, texts, data, and calls to emergency services.
The telco claims its network is deliberately engineered to to work at lower signal levels and in remote areas. Telstra’s position is that the ‘poor coverage’ label should instead apply to signal strengths under -122 dBm, which more closely reflects global industry standards and data from government coverage audits.
Telstra argues that a move to the ACMA’s new rules will mean customers are still misinformed, but will instead assume that coverage isn’t available where it may be perfectly adequate.
“Nothing has changed about Telstra’s network,” Shailin Sehgal, Telstra Group Executive of Global Networks and Technology, said in a statement.
“No sites have been switched off. No coverage has been removed. Telstra’s network remains vastly larger with over 2,000 more mobile sites than any other network across Australia. Our coverage advantage in regional and remote areas is even larger. The only thing that has changed is what will be shown on a comparable map.”
Telstra has positioned itself as the network of choice for regional Australia, so the suggestion that its advertised coverage is inaccurate has feathers ruffled. More than $12.4 billion has been pumped into the Telstra network in the last seven years, including $4.7 billion into improving regional coverage. Telstra also attributes its upcoming mobile plan price increases to network investment costs.
In comparison, TPG Telecom has been especially aggressive in its support for the new ACMA rules, after claiming Telstra ‘overinflated’ its network coverage by including areas that required an external antenna to make a call. TPG increased its own coverage footprint in 2025 after cementing a network sharing agreement with Optus in regional areas.
Are the new coverage rules good for customers?
First of all: if you’re on the Telstra network and outside of a major metro area, there’s no need to panic. Your coverage won’t change, even if updated network maps indicate there’s ‘no coverage’ at your location.
The same goes for customers on Optus or Vodafone’s networks. If you’re happy with your current 4G or 5G coverage, changes to your provider’s network maps won’t impact your experience. And whether you're with Telstra, Optus or Vodafone, you'll be able to get practically the same coverage by switching to a cheaper telco on the same network.
What the new standard will do is provide more detail if you’re looking to switch providers, travel, move house, or simply compare coverage levels between telcos. While nothing on a coverage map is guaranteed, labelling signal strength — and updating those labels each quarter — can provide a better indication of the real-world experience customers can expect.
Minister for Communications Anika Wells, who pushed for the new standard, called the changes “a win for Australian consumers” .
“People should know what they’re getting when they sign-up with a provider and this improved mapping will make it easier for customers to make informed decisions about the communications services they rely on,” she said.
“This new standard is not set and forget. It is imperative that ACMA continue this important work to improve and refine coverage maps and rules over time, including to reflect new technologies, experience and data.”
One thing to keep in mind is that even if a map shows good coverage at your location, other factors can impact the quality of your mobile experience. These include whether you’re on 4G or 5G, if you’re indoors or outdoors, how many people are also on the network, weather conditions, physical obstructions like tall buildings, and even the type of phone you’re using.
While the ACMA’s new rules are locked in, Telstra isn’t going down without a fight.
“Telstra supports a single, consistent standard that helps customers compare coverage across providers, but a standard that does not permit mobile network operators to show usable coverage could make it much harder for customers to access the information they need,” Mr Sehgal said.
Who’s in the right — Telstra or the ACMA — could ultimately come down to the opinion of customers. Would you rather assume coverage is available somewhere, only to get zero bars? Or be pleasantly surprised by a signal in an area you thought was a black spot?
