Telco Industry Welcomes Confirmation of Temporary Disaster Roaming Arrangements
The Australian Telecommunications Alliance (ATA) has welcomed confirmation by the Minister for Communications that the industry has established sufficient arrangements to provide Temporary Disaster Roaming (TDR) in Australia.
The decision is an important milestone for the new industry-led capability, which is ready to be activated in disaster-affected areas of regional and remote Australia when network conditions allow.
ATA CEO Luke Coleman said Australia’s mobile network operators (MNOs) had worked collaboratively to establish and test TDR ahead of the 2026-27 High Risk Weather Season.
“Temporary Disaster Roaming gives Australians another way to stay connected when a natural disaster disrupts their usual mobile network in a regional or remote area. TDR may allow customers to connect to another mobile network to make calls, send text messages, and access limited data services where coverage, capacity, and safety conditions permit.”
“TDR is an important additional resilience capability, but it is not universal disaster coverage or a substitute for restoring damaged networks. TDR can only operate where another mobile network remains available and can safely support additional users.”
TDR has been ready to activate since 1 October 2026. Participating MNOs – Telstra, Optus, and TPG Telecom – have established arrangements covering activation, deactivation, and extension; technical and operational safeguards; government notifications; and stakeholder information.
“These arrangements are designed to ensure that the surviving network remains operational. Decisions to activate, adjust, or deactivate TDR remain with MNOs responsible for safely managing their networks.” Mr Coleman said.
“We will continue working closely with the Department, NEMA, state and territory governments, and emergency service organisations to support clear and consistent public information as the TDR capability is used and refined.”
TDR complements Australia’s existing emergency communications and disaster response arrangements. It is separate from existing Triple Zero access, which already allows Australians to use any available mobile network to make an emergency call when their usual network is unavailable, via emergency ‘camp-on’.
The Minister’s statement on TDR was required under section 158A of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999, following amendments made by the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment (Universal Outdoor Mobile Obligation) Act 2026.
A copy of the Minister’s statement is available here.
