Yarra Junction getting mobile upgrades

Once completed, Yarra Junction will join more than 4,200 Telstra 5G. Picture: UNSPLASH

The Yarra Junction Telstra mobile base will be in full shutdown for four days as part of upgrades from the company from Tuesday 8 August through to Friday 11 August and landlines will not be affected.

During this period, there will be no Telstra mobile technology operating.

Regional General Manager for Telstra Jenny Gray, said that the company understands that there is never a good time for work like this to occur and the the company apologises for any inconvenience this may cause.

“We will be as quick as we can,” she said.

The upgrade of the Yarra Junction mobile base station is part of a capacity upgrade that will cause temporary disruptions to the community of Yarra Junction.

From the week beginning Monday 7 August, Telstra will begin upgrading its mobile base station to bring improved 4G capacity and new 5G coverage.

Telstra mobile customers have started receiving text messages advising them of the upcoming upgrade.

Landline services, NBN internet services and mobile coverage from other providers will not be impacted.

Any calls to Triple Zero from a Telstra mobile when the site is off air will automatically be diverted to any working mobile network for connection to emergency services.

Ms Gray said that while coverage and capacity will be impacted during this time, we want to keep the amount of time the site is off air to an absolute minimum and give the community as much time as possible to plan for the disruption.

“We must turn the site off for a few days to perform the significant work needed to improve our mobile network in the Yarra Junction area. However, once it is all done, residents should notice an improvement in their service,” she said.

Please note that the works are intended to improve mobile connectivity in the existing coverage footprint.

Tips for improving connectivity while works are underway.

For mobile coverage in the interim, if residents have access to a wi-fi signal at home or at work, Telstra encourages residents to activate wi-fi calling.

This is a free setting on most popular mobile phones and allows your mobile to use a Wi-Fi network to make and receive mobile calls. To find out more they can google Telstra Wi-Fi calling or just search in your settings icon on your phone.

We know many businesses use the Telstra network for their EFTPOS terminals. However, Telstra does not operate the EFTPOS network; it is operated by financial institutions. Many EFTPOS terminals can also be connected using fixed line or Wi-Fi/NBN internet connections.

Retailers should contact their bank for more information and details on how to switch between these methods to ensure continuous service.

The roll out of improved connectivity in Yarra Junction means customers with Telstra mobile services and devices will be able to enjoy a better mobile experience.

“We are continuing to expand our mobile network across regional Victoria and nationally we are adding new sites to the network every week. Works such as these continue to demonstrate Telstra’s ongoing commitment to regional Australia,” Ms Gray said.

Once completed, Yarra Junction will join more than 4,200 Telstra 5G sites on-air within selected areas of more than four hundred cities and towns across Australia.

80 per cent of all Australians now having the ability to access to the Telstra 5G network where they live.

For customers wishing to access 5G on the Telstra network, they will need a 5G capable device and have a Telstra 5G phone plan, so for some people, that may mean upgrading their current device.