Australian summers are famous for a few things: beautiful beaches, backyard barbecues, and unfortunately, unpredictable natural disasters. When severe weather strikes it’s imortant to stay aware of what is going on and being able to get access to help if you need it, unfortunuatly we tend to lose mobile reception right when we need it most.
Thankfully, a new lifeline has launched just in time for disaster season. As of October 1, major telecommunications companies have introduced Temporary Disaster Roaming (TDR).
How Temporary Disaster Roaming Works
What exactly is it? Simply put, if you are caught in a regional or rural area during a bushfire, flood, or cyclone, and your mobile network goes down, your phone may automatically connect to a rival carrier’s network. For example, if you are with Optus or TPG and only the Telstra tower survives the storm, your phone could jump over to keep you connected.
This temporary switch happens behind the scenes, provided the surviving network can handle the extra traffic. Best of all, there are no surprise fees. You will be able to make essential calls, send texts, and access basic data for emergency apps. Just remember that data speeds are restricted to maintain stability, so it is perfect for checking evacuation maps, but definitely not the time to stream videos.
TDR vs. Triple Zero
It is also important to note that TDR is entirely separate from calling Triple Zero. You can already dial Triple Zero from any available network, a built-in phone safety feature that remains unchanged.
Temporary Disaster Roaming is a brilliant backup plan that works alongside existing measures like satellite connections and backup tower batteries. It is the network equivalent of borrowing a cup of sugar from your neighbour, but on a massive scale. Stay safe and stay connected!
