Telstra fights misleading coverage claims

Alex Choros - Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor

Last updated 26 May 2025

Telstra has done a "deep review" of its mobile coverage measurement data following Vodafone's accusations last week, and stands by its claims that its network covers 99.7% of the Australian population and three million square kilometres.

Vodafone has alleged that Telstra has been misleading consumers over the size of its mobile network for over 15 years, and that its coverage claims were based on the use of an external antenna. Vodafone said customers not using this specialised equipment had access to a much smaller footprint.

While Telstra initially updated its website to clarify the 99.7% figure factored in the use of external antennas, Telstra Executive for Technology Engagement Advancement Channa Seneviratne says the telco wanted to be conservative in its network claims following Vodafone's accusations.

"When Vodafone raised concerns about our coverage claims, we took the time to complete a deep assessment of our coverage measurement data," said Seneviratne in a blog post on the Telstra website. "We thought it was best in the meantime to take a conservative approach and refer to an external antenna recommendation in our coverage claims."

"But we remain confident that our three million square kilometres of coverage to 99.7% of the Australian population coverage claims are correct, and does not rely on external antenna use."

Telstra’s coverage page does still reference the use of external antennas, however.

In the blog post, Seneviratne detailed how Telstra tests mobile coverage, which includes a combination of drive testing and desktop modelling.

"To work out our overall coverage footprint, we set a minimum dBm level that’s needed to maintain a good quality voice call. If the predicted signal strength is below this level, we exclude this area from our coverage footprint," said Seneviratne.

"No mobile network operator can test every square metre of Australia’s landmass in person and there are a range of factors that impact on mobile coverage like the specific handset you use, how you use it (e.g. in a car, outdoors, indoors or even how you hold it), surrounding terrain and the generation of mobile network you’re connecting to (e.g. 4G or 5G)."

Senevirante noted that there is no industry standard for the way coverage is measured today, but says Telstra will advocate for a consistent approach.

Vodafone has called on the ACCC to investigate Telstra's coverage claims, and consumer advocacy group ACCAN said it was deeply concerned by the allegations.

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Alex Choros

Managing Editor + Group Telco Editor | X | Instagram | Threads | LinkedIn

Alex Choros is the Managing Editor of WhistleOut Australia and an award-winning journalist. He's been writing about consumer technology for over a decade and is an expert on the Australian telco sector, to the point where he knows far too many phone and internet plans by heart. In addition to leading the WhistleOut editorial team, Alex is responsible for ruining the office Sonos with his troubled taste in music.

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