Australian mobile operators activate Temporary Disaster Roaming

Major Australian mobile operators Telstra, Optus, and Vodafone have activated Temporary Disaster Roaming (TDR) to maintain connectivity during natural disasters. The system allows users whose primary network is down to access voice calls, text messages, and basic data—including emergency apps and messaging services—via an alternative available network at no extra cost.

However, the TDR system has specific technical limitations. It can only be active in up to three disaster-affected areas simultaneously, with each area limited to 15 mobile sites. Furthermore, the affected areas must be at least 400 kilometres apart, and the service is typically designed for short durations of approximately 24 hours. The system is not intended to support medical devices.

The Australian Communications Consumer Action Network (ACCAN) has called for the mandate of such roaming capabilities. ACCAN CEO Carol Bennett expressed concerns regarding the discretionary nature of the current arrangement, stating that public safety should not rely on voluntary commitments from telecommunications companies that can choose when to enable or disable the service.