Here is what telcos are doing to help flood victims

Anula Wiwatowska - Offsite Editorial Lead

Last updated 03 March 2022

With so much destruction happening across the country due to floods, a few telcos have put their hand up to help flood victims stay connected amidst the disaster.

Below we outline the providers initiatives, and how current customers can claim them. We will update this article periodically as more providers announce measures.

amaysim
Optus
Telstra

amaysim

Current amaysim customers living in flood-affected areas in South East Queensland and Northern NSW will automatically receive bonus data for the month of March. The amount of bonus data depends on the plan level, they are as follows:

10GB of bonus data on $10 plans
20GB of bonus data on $20 plans
30GB of bonus data on $30, $40, and $50 plans

All Pay-as-You-Go customers will also automatically receive free calls and texts in March.

Optus

Optus is offering 25GB of bonus data for eligible prepaid and postpaid customers. The provider did not clarify exactly which plans are eligible, but did state that some plans do not allow for extra data. Optus will work with these customers to provide alternative assistance on a case-by-case basis.

An interim internet service is also available for fixed line consumer and business internet customers.

Flood-affected customers will need to contact Optus in order to trigger this assistance through the dedicated severe weather hotline at 1800 507 581.

Telstra

Telstra has turned on free Telstra Air WiFi in affected areas for anyone, customer or not to be able to access where possible.

Both prepaid and postpaid mobile customers can also access a 25GB data pack, and free calls if it is not already included within their plan.

Those who still utilise a Telstra home phone service are able to have calls diverted from a fixed line service if they have been displaced from their homes, and Telstra will waive a fixed line connection charge at one temporary address in the interim.

To see a full list of postcodes where these initiatives are available, see the Telstra website, and to access these services, call 1800 888 888.

Anula Wiwatowska

Offsite Editorial Lead | Instagram

Anula is the Off-Site Editorial Lead for WhistleOut Australia, and an award winning tech journalist. She has been writing about the Australian telco industry, and consumer technology for over five years, and has been known to tell her Uber driver which phone they should upgrade to next.

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