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The landline switch-off in Australia

Switching off. Telstra's copper home phone service is switched off area by area as the nbn arrives, 18 months after the nbn is switched on locally; phones then run over nbn equipment. In nbn Fixed Wireless and satellite areas the copper line is not disconnected by nbn. Source

What changes

  • nbn lists Telstra home/landline phone services (except some Telstra Velocity lines) and Optus cable phone among services "permanently disconnected". Source
  • nbn says switch-off "occurs 18 months after the network is switched on in your area"; some providers give an earlier date. Source
  • Premises on nbn Fixed Wireless and satellite won't be disconnected from existing phone services by nbn, and can keep the copper line. Source
  • On nbn fibre (FTTP) Telstra says a corded phone connected directly to the nbn connection box, with a battery back-up, should still work in a power cut for about five hours. Source

Who and what is at risk

  • nbn says unless you have battery back-up and a corded phone correctly connected, your phone won't work in a blackout; on FTTB, FTTC, FTTN and HFC phone and internet fail and battery back-up can't help. Source
  • Cordless phones need mains power and won't work in a power cut (Telstra). Source
  • Medical alarms still relying on the copper network "may stop working" once it is disconnected; nbn closed its Medical Alarm Register on 30 June 2023. Source
  • Emergency lift phones and monitored fire alarms on copper may be at risk of disconnection (nbn business guide). Source

Help and protections

  • Telstra must offer Priority Assistance to people with a life-threatening medical condition. Source
  • nbn suggests a medical alarm with battery and mobile-network back-up, and a charged mobile; some providers offer modems with mobile and battery back-up. Source
  • nbn FTTP battery back-up lasts about five hours but must be ordered through your provider. Source

A home phone that doesn't need the line

Home phones with a SIM card make calls over the mobile network instead. See the ones sold in Australia that we've confirmed on each network.

Or carry a plain mobile: other simple phones, each checked against your network.