Overview of Telstra’s Planned Mobile Outages in Western Australia
Telstra has announced extended mobile service outages in parts of Western Australia as the carrier upgrades its mobile base stations. The affected areas include Kalgoorlie-Boulder’s Mt Charlotte and North Esperance, with a scheduled disruption that will limit services for residents, businesses, and travelers relying on Telstra’s nationwide network. While outages are never welcome, Telstra says the work is essential to improve coverage and reliability in the long run.
Details of the Outage: What to Expect
Near Mt Charlotte, west of Kalgoorlie-Boulder, mobile service is expected to be unavailable for approximately 50 hours. In the North Esperance region, residents and visitors should anticipate a 24-hour outage as technicians complete base station upgrades. Telstra notes that some users may experience intermittent connectivity or degraded performance at the edges of the affected zones during the maintenance window, but the core services should be restored within the stated timelines.
Why the Outages Are Necessary
Telstra routinely schedules upgrades to its base stations to expand capacity, improve data speeds, and strengthen network resilience against outages or extreme weather. The Mt Charlotte and North Esperance upgrades are part of a broader network modernization program designed to support more users, enable 5G expansion where available, and reduce future disruption. While service interruptions are inconvenient, they pave the way for faster, more reliable mobile experiences once the work is complete.
Impact Across the Community
The outages affect a broad spectrum of users: daily commuters who rely on mobile maps, small businesses that depend on mobile connectivity for payments and communications, healthcare providers that use mobile networks for routine check-ins, and tourists exploring the region. Educational facilities, emergency services, and rural residents who depend on mobile services for critical information will be watching timelines closely. Local cafes and service centers that offer Wi-Fi may see a shift in foot traffic during the outage window as people adjust their plans.
What to Do During the Outage
Emergency planners and service providers typically offer a few practical steps to mitigate disruption during base station upgrades. Consider pre-loading essential apps and documents on your mobile device, keeping a small buffer of data if your plan offers limited rollover data, and planning alternative connectivity if your work or travel depends on mobile networks. If you rely on mobile payments, plan for backup options such as card readers or cash during the outage. It’s also a good idea to check with Telstra’s outage notices or your account portal for updates on progress and any revised timelines.
Tips for Staying Informed
Telstra usually posts real-time updates on its official status pages and social channels. Local community alerts, regional news outlets, and customer service channels may provide region-specific guidance. If you have ongoing business or family needs tied to mobile connectivity, establish a temporary contingency plan now and communicate timelines to affected staff or relatives. After the maintenance window, you may notice improved performance, reduced latency, and stronger signal stability in the upgraded areas.
Post-Outage Expectations and Next Steps
Once the upgrades are completed, Telstra typically conducts post-maintenance testing to ensure services are fully restored. Residents should monitor device indicators and perform a routine network restart if necessary. If you experience persistent issues after the stated outage windows, contact Telstra support to report service degradation or outages, as some problems may be due to device compatibility or local tower configurations that require adjustments.
In summary, while a 50-hour outage near Mt Charlotte and a 24-hour outage in North Esperance are substantial interruptions, they are aimed at delivering a more robust and faster mobile network for West Australians in the future. Planning ahead, staying informed, and using backup connectivity options can ease the impact on daily routines during this upgrade period.
