Quick answer: Australia is currently undergoing a digital transformation from a predominantly copper network to the national rollout of the Multi-Technology Mix (MTM), predominantly on a fibre network. This will affect the way you currently use your landline, particularly in a power outage.
Why the change to the telecommunications network?
The nbn™ access network is a modern, high performing network designed to enable the phone and internet services that homes and businesses now consider as essential, just like water or electricity.
The existing telecommunications network is not universally fit for this purpose, as it was largely built at a time before our lifestyles were heavily reliant on the internet. With this comes a change to the way telecommunications have operated in the past in Australia, moving from a predominantly copper network to a predominantly fibre network – for 93% of Australian premises.
This change is essential for Australia to be competitive globally. We’ll see how much can be achieved when all Australians have access to fast and reliable internet. It will also greatly benefit the economy, health and government services and businesses nationwide.
What’s changed?
Some safety-critical devices like medical alarms, fire alarms and lift emergency phones may not be compatible with the nbn™ access network at all times, including during a power blackout.
In addition, all types of landline phones (cordless phones, as well as older style un-powered corded phones) will not work in a power outage. This is because the nbn™ access network requires power at both the exchange and within the home or business to operate. This is a key difference to the existing copper network which only requires power at one end (within the exchange) to enable the charge required for a landline phone to function.
While the nbn™ access network has inbuilt power resiliency in parts, it’s not within nbn’s control to guarantee power at both ends of the network at all times – including within the millions of homes and businesses across Australia
A number of factors influence the resiliency of the nbn™ access network to provide uninterrupted services during a power outage. Even with network power resiliency and in-premises battery backup, power outages may last longer than the battery life.
Will my existing phone and internet services really stop working if I don’t do anything to connect my services to the nbn™ access network?
Yes, this is the case for the 93% of Australian premises connected to the nbn™ access network via a Fixed Line technology. You can see where Fixed Line technologies have been installed. We recommend you move your services over to the nbn™ access network well before they are switched off, which occurs 18 months after the network is switched on in your area.
Premises within nbn™ Fixed Wireless and Sky Muster™ satellite areas will have the choice to keep their existing landline phone service over the copper network active, or switch over to a VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) service on the nbn™ access network through a preferred phone and internet provider– connecting your new phone via the nbn™ supplied equipment.
Consider keeping your copper service active in nbn™ Fixed Wireless and Sky Muster™ satellite areas if you rely on landline phone services in emergency situations.
Australia Broadband does not provide landline phone services. If you need to retain your existing landline phone service, you will need to contact another retail service provider who is able to provide a landline phone service