SYDNEY, 26 February 2026 – Telstra is currently grappling with a series of significant network disruptions across Australia, with over 100,000 services impacted by a major power failure and planned infrastructure works leaving regional communities in the dark.
Major Power Issue Hits North Nowra
A massive outage was reported yesterday, 25 February, following a critical power issue at an exchange site in North Nowra. The disruption has affected more than 100,000 services, spanning mobile, NBN, ADSL, and PSTN (landline) connections. While technicians are working to restore full capacity, customers in the region continue to report intermittent connectivity.
Regional Blackouts: Torquay and Queensland
In Victoria, the coastal town of Torquay has been plunged into a mobile phone blackout that could last up to 16 days. Telstra has deactivated a local tower to accommodate essential roadworks. Local business owners have expressed frustration, claiming they were not adequately prepared for such a lengthy disruption to their operations.
Simultaneously, Telstra’s 4G supplier has confirmed significant local outages in Queensland. Residents in the following areas are currently experiencing service drops:
- Dundowran and Dundowran Beach
- Eli Waters
- Kawungan
- Nikenbah
Ongoing Triple Zero Concerns
The recent outages have reignited a national debate regarding the reliability of emergency services on the Telstra network. Over the past month, software updates for certain iPhone and Samsung devices have reportedly “killed” the ability for some users to dial Triple Zero (000). An independent review recently found that Telstra and its contractors failed to “deal immediately” with warning signals during previous emergency call outages, leading to increased pressure from federal regulators.
Telstra Fault Management and Support
Telstra maintains several frameworks for managing infrastructure faults and proactive monitoring. For business and enterprise customers, these services are often managed through integrated operations platforms.
| Service Type | Management Framework | Primary Function |
|---|---|---|
| Managed Network Services | 24×7 Proactive Management | Full infrastructure and device stack monitoring. |
| Enterprise Operations | Integrated Operations Management | End-to-end fault lifecycle management for carriage and equipment. |
| Wholesale Services | Basic Telephone Service Assurance | Standardised fault detection and service improvement processes. |
| Dark Fibre | Operations & Maintenance Manual | Specific provisioning and technical maintenance procedures. |
| Telemetry | Remote Infrastructure Monitoring | Hosted device management for remote telemetry services. |
Public Sentiment and Connectivity Issues
Public frustration is mounting on social media and outage tracking platforms. Users have reported “gateway timeout” issues and difficulties accessing cloud-based services like Amazon Web Services (AWS), Slack, and Australia Post via Telstra connections. On community forums, some customers have complained about “dropouts” being dismissed by support staff as “normal,” despite persistent stability issues.
Frequently Asked Questions
How can I check if there is a Telstra outage in my area?
Customers can use the official Telstra Service Status page or third-party trackers like DownDetector to see real-time reports and outage maps for their specific postcode.
What should I do if I cannot call Triple Zero?
If your mobile device fails to connect to Triple Zero during an outage, try removing the SIM card to force the phone to use any available alternative network. If a landline is available, use it as a secondary option.
Why is the Torquay outage lasting 16 days?
The extended outage in Torquay is due to the physical deactivation of a mobile tower to allow for safe roadworks in the immediate vicinity. Telstra typically suggests using Wi-Fi calling where a fixed broadband connection is still active during such periods.
Are wholesale customers like Exetel affected by Telstra outages?
Yes. Because providers like Exetel and Telsim often use the Telstra wholesale network, any major infrastructure failure at a Telstra exchange or tower will typically impact their customers as well.