Overview
- ACMA’s new standard, announced Tuesday, sets -115 dBm as the minimum usable signal and labels anything weaker as no coverage.
- From June 30, Telstra, Optus and TPG must republish maps in four plain tiers — good, moderate, basic, no coverage — and update them at least every three months.
- The rules also require carriers to give the same standardised maps to their resellers so MVNO customers see comparable coverage claims.
- Telstra pushed for a looser -122 dBm threshold and says many customers still use fringe areas, while stressing its network is unchanged and no sites have been switched off.
- Optus, TPG, the ACCC and ACCAN backed the -115 dBm line, and the government paired the move with an audit by Accenture and Australia Post plus ACMA penalties after complaints that overstated maps hindered emergency response and farm operations.