ACCC Welcomes New Mobile Coverage Map Standard As Telco Transparency Push Begins

The competition regulator has welcomed new rules requiring mobile providers to publish standardised coverage maps, warning it will scrutinise future claims and take enforcement action where coverage representations mislead consumers.

The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) has introduced the Telecommunications (Mobile Network Coverage Maps) Industry Standard 2026, which requires all mobile providers to publish clear and consistent 4G and 5G coverage maps using a common methodology.

Under the standard, coverage areas must now be labelled as good, moderate, basic or no coverage based on signal strength, aligned with international benchmarks.

The shift means coverage maps must reflect where consumers can reasonably expect reliable service on a standard handset, rather than simply where a signal might technically be available.

What The New Standard Means For Consumers

For the first time, customers can compare mobile networks on a like-for-like basis, with maps required to show where a phone will actually work rather than where it might pick up a fringe signal.

In practical terms, if a map indicates coverage at a given address, a consumer should be able to make calls, send texts and use data reliably at that location.

“This new Standard is an important step because it will provide consumers with coverage maps showing varying levels of coverage quality in different areas,” ACCC Deputy Chair Catriona Lowe explained.

“The maps will reflect where consumers can reasonably expect reliable service, rather than simply where a signal might be available.”

Lowe noted that reliable mobile coverage is particularly critical in regional, rural and remote communities where people depend on their mobile services to stay connected and access important services including emergency services.

“The new Standard means coverage can be more easily compared between providers, enabling consumers to use these maps when purchasing a mobile service to make sure they choose one that meets their needs,” she added.

Maps must be updated at least every three months to reflect changes in network coverage.

Coverage Claims Under The Microscope

While the standard itself does not expressly cover geographical coverage claims made in advertising and promotional material, the ACCC has put providers on notice that it expects those claims to align with the new maps.

“While the new Standard does not expressly cover geographical coverage claims, the ACCC expects mobile providers to align these claims with the mobile coverage maps published under the Standard, to respect consumers’ need for clear, consistent and accurate coverage information,” Lowe stated.

The regulator confirmed it will consider whether geographical coverage claims align with published coverage maps as part of its assessment of future complaints about misleading representations.

Telstra Coverage Complaint Closed

The ACCC has also finalised its consideration of a complaint lodged by TPG Telecom in May 2025 about geographical coverage claims on Telstra’s website, including the claim that Telstra’s mobile network “covers more Australians over an area of 3 million square kilometres.”

After an in-depth investigation, the ACCC decided not to take further action on those claims at this time, citing the technical complexity and evidentiary challenges involved in establishing the claims were false or misleading.

The regulator noted the claims were made at a time when there was no consistent way to assess mobile coverage, a gap the new standard is designed to address.

The concern around Telstra’s claims centred on suggestions that the coverage footprint relied on external antennas and did not reflect what customers could expect on a standard handset.

All major operators supported the move to a usability-based standard except Telstra, which argued weaker signal should continue to be counted as coverage.

Telstra has indicated its coverage maps will shrink under the new ACMA rules, though it has not specified by how much or what its updated population coverage figure will be.

Vodafone Maps Expand Under New Rules

Vodafone’s updated maps, published under the new standard, show its population coverage has increased from 98.5 per cent to 99 per cent. Its coverage area has also expanded from about 1.1 million square kilometres to more than 1.2 million square kilometres.

A Vodafone spokesperson described the change as a win for Australian consumers.

“For the first time, customers can look at a coverage map and trust it reflects where their phone will actually work in everyday conditions,” the spokesperson remarked.

“That transparency will drive stronger competition, helping customers get better value and making it easier to compare providers and avoid paying a premium for coverage that doesn’t deliver.”

The spokesperson added that Vodafone’s maps have been simplified with consistent colour coding to make them easier to read at a glance, including for users with accessibility needs.

Research from Deloitte Access Economics found that Vodafone customers value the provider’s expanded mobile network at about $90 a year on top of what they already pay, reflecting the everyday benefit people place on a reliable network.

Regulator Flags Ongoing Concerns

Despite closing the Telstra complaint, the ACCC signalled it remains watchful over coverage representations across the sector.

“We remain concerned about ongoing coverage issues, and we continue to receive a significant number of complaints from consumers, including about patchy service and the accuracy of coverage maps,” Lowe warned.

“We will continue to consider providers’ claims about coverage and will take enforcement action where appropriate.”

The regulator has form in holding telcos to account over misleading representations. In October 2025, Telstra was fined $18 million for misleading Belong customers over broadband speed claims. A month earlier, the Federal Court ordered Optus to pay a $100 million penalty for unconscionable conduct.

The new standard commenced on 31 March 2026, with providers required to publish standardised maps from 30 June 2026.

Last Updated on July 1, 2026 by Nick Ross