NBN needs ‘urgent fix’

A sharp increase in NBN traffic due to the coronavirus has sparked calls for network improvements to be fast-tracked.

Minister for Communications, Cyber Safety and the Arts Paul Fletcher delivers a speech at the National Press Club in Canberr, Wednesday, December 11, 2019. (AAP Image/Lukas Coch)

Communications minister Paul Fletcher has convened a meeting of Australia's telcos and internet providers, with industry groups arguing that improvements to the NBN need to be fast-tracked for it to cope with demand from the coronavirus pandemic.

Mr Fletcher held a phone hook-up on Monday between Australia's telco CEOs and stakeholders to discuss the industry's response to coronavirus, with participants including NBN Co, Telstra, Optus, Nokia, TPG, Vodafone, Vocus and more sharing their network and workforce plans.

Also on the call was regional health and communications minister Mark Coulton and department secretary Simon Atkinson, who discussed how to best manage Australia's telco networks given the increased demand.

“While increased numbers of people working from home can be expected to change the usage of data and traffic profile across residential services, we have world-class telecommunications networks that are resilient and capable of accommodating new and changing requirements," Mr Fletcher said in a statement.

Labor's communication spokeswoman Michelle Rowland said that the government should consider providing retail providers with capacity charge relief, given the coronavirus epidemic will lead more workers and children to use the internet from home.

Ms Rowland said currently ISPs purchase capacity from the NBN to support their peak hour traffic demands, but will likely have to cope with congested speeds or higher wholesale costs for retail providers in the case of school and workplace closures.

"If peak demand overtakes capacity, this may present telecommunications providers with a decision to either incur greater costs or to tolerate greater levels of NBN speed congestion," she said.

"Labor considers these unique circumstances do lend themselves towards NBN providing retail providers with temporary and targeted capacity relief should these circumstances arise over the COVID-19 period.

"These developments will need to be monitored as for the time being it’s too early to tell how the situation might play out."

NBN chief executive Stephen Rue said the past weekend had seen traffic spikes of about 5 per cent.

“As a telecommunications industry, we will work together to keep Australians connected and productive through this crisis. These are unprecedented times and we are already seeing a steady increase in demand on the NBN, and this is set to continue.,” he said. “Int erms of the expected requests for additional CVC capacity, we will work with the Industry to find the best solution. Clearly we all need to play our part.”

Australia’s Telecommunications Association, Telsoc, meanwhile said the government needed to fast-track improvements to the NBN and the country's mobile telecommunications infrastructure as part of a response to an expected demand spike from the coronavirus.

TelSoc President Professor Reg Coutts wrote to communications minister Paul Fletcher arguing that doctors and their patients will struggle to take advantage of the new bulk-billing arrangements without decent broadband.

"Eventually the NBN’s out-of-date technology will need to be replaced right across the network.

"Given the needs of the medical profession right now it would make sense for the government to instruct NBN Co to make doctors, health centres and hospitals its top priority for a technology upgrade for a future," he said.

Unlimited data until the end of April

Telstra announced on Monday afternoon it would be giving its consumer and small business customers unlimited data until the end of April as part of its coronavirus response, and pensioners would receive unlimited home phone calls.

“The data, which will be provided automatically, will help facilitate videoconferencing; voice over Wi-Fi, and cloud connectivity, all important tools when working from home or in isolation,” Telstra chief Andy Penn said in a statement.

“We are also giving our consumer and small business mobile customers more data. Post-paid customers (both handheld and mobile broadband) can receive an extra 25GB of data on their plan to use in Australia within 30 days to facilitate the need for a more mobile workforce. Post-paid customers can apply for the extra data via our Telstra 24x7 and My Telstra Apps from Thursday until 31 March and the data will be available within 24 hours.”

He added that Telstra Prepaid customers with an active recharge of $40 or more can get 10GB of additional data to use in Australia within 28 to 30 days.

“Eligible pre-paid customers can apply for the extra data via our Telstra 24x7 and My Telstra Apps from Thursday until March 31 and the offer will be applied to customer accounts within 24 to 48 hours,” Mr Penn said.

“Eligible pensioners with a Telstra home phone plan will also be able to make unlimited local, national and 13/1300 calls, and calls to Australian mobiles, from their home phone in Australia to make staying in touch with friends and family simpler. This is available from Thursday until April 30.

“COVID-19 is a global challenge, we are all affected, and we all need to play our part in the response.”

Optus offering more

Optus too said it would offer its customers additional mobile data. The telco already offers its NBN customers unlimited data.

“These are unprecedented times, and we want to help Australians who find themselves having to self-isolate or work from home to stay connected,” the telco’s CEO designate Kelly Bayer Rosmarin said.

“We understand how much it means to customers to stay connected with their colleagues, classmates, family and friends. Access to data is critical, so we are playing our part in helping the community with our additional data offer.”

She said eligible postpaid mobile customers will be offered a one-off add-on of 20GB of data during April 2020, while eligible prepaid customers who recharge with $40 or more during April will receive 10GB of extra data.