“That ICPA Qld lobbies Telstra to ensure the transition timeline for the closure of the CAN Radio Network is extended, clearly communicated and adequately resourced to guarantee that all affected customers are successfully migrated to reliable, secure and future-ready telecommunications services, with no loss of access or service continuity for rural and remote users.”
The CAN Radio Network is operating on ageing and increasingly unsupported technology that can no longer be reliably repaired or maintained. While its closure is inevitable, the current transition timeline raises significant concerns regarding whether it is sufficient to meet the needs of rural and remote customers who depend on these services.
Under the Universal Service Obligation, Telstra is required to ensure that Standard Telephone Services (STS) are reasonably accessible to all Australians on an equitable basis, regardless of location. This includes providing a reliable voice service, maintaining consistent connectivity and ensuring faults are rectified within reasonable timeframes.
Telstra has indicated that the CAN Radio Network exit may commence as early as April 2026, with full closure planned by 16 November 2027. However, as Queensland accounts for approximately half of all High-Capacity Radio Concentrator (HCRC) services nationally, meaning a significant proportion of affected customers are located in rural and remote areas of this state.
These regions face unique challenges, including limited connectivity alternatives, geographical isolation, infrastructure constraints and increased reliance on telecommunications for safety, business operations and emergency response. Transitioning such a large and dispersed user base within the proposed timeframe presents considerable risk.
A key concern is that replacement services may not be fully operational, resilient or capable of delivering continuous access at the point of changeover. In rural and remote environments, where power supply is often unreliable and dependent on generators or solar systems, any replacement service must be able to operate effectively during power outages. If the existing service is decommissioned before the replacement is fully installed, tested and capable of providing a 24/7 reliable service, this effectively results in a loss of service for the user.
Without a carefully managed, adequately resourced and potentially extended transition period, there is a real likelihood that customers will experience service gaps, reduced reliability or be left without a fit-for-purpose solution. This would represent a failure to meet equitable access obligations and would disproportionately impact rural and remote communities.
A transition of this scale must prioritise:
- Guaranteed continuity of service with no disconnections before replacement services are fully operational, independently powered where required, and capable of 24/7 reliability
- Access to solutions that are genuinely fit-for-purpose in remote conditions, including resilience during power outages
- Clear, consistent and proactive communication with all affected users
- Sufficient time for installation, testing and troubleshooting of replacement services
- Ongoing support for customers during and after the transition
- Given the scale of reliance on HCRC services in Queensland, it is critical that the proposed timeline is reassessed to ensure it is realistic, achievable and does not disadvantage rural and remote Australians.
