A bushfire in Western Australia’s Great Southern region earlier this year highlighted significant issues with mobile connectivity during emergencies. Scott Smith, a farmer and volunteer firefighter, reported making over 250 calls while battling the blaze, but most of them either did not connect or dropped shortly after. "[I made] just over 250 calls. The vast majority of those either didn't connect or cut out seconds in," Smith said.

Smith, who operates a farm in Green Range, located 440 kilometers south of Perth, expressed frustration over the lack of service despite being able to see a nearby phone tower. He noted, "We could've gotten away with 60 or 70 [calls] if connectivity was reliable."

Following the fire, the Department of Fire and Emergency Services (DFES) attributed the service outage to damage sustained by Western Power infrastructure during the blaze. The mobile tower lost power due to the absence of backup systems, leading to the connectivity issues experienced by Smith and others.

Connectivity problems during emergencies are not isolated incidents. In 2024, a supercell thunderstorm in the Wheatbelt and Goldfields regions caused significant disruptions to telecommunications. Similarly, Cyclone Seroja in 2021 devastated the Mid West and Wheatbelt areas, leaving over 100 3G mobile towers and 79 4G base stations without service for days.

Karen Chappel, president of the Local Government Association, emphasized the importance of reliable mobile connectivity during emergencies. "Cyclone Seroja, fires in the Goldfields, Bruce Rock, Esperance — those have really identified the need for emergency services and families to have [mobile] contact," she stated.

In response to these challenges, the state government announced a pilot program in November to test automatic transfer units (ATUs) at 80 sites across the Wheatbelt and Goldfields. These devices are designed to switch power from the grid to backup generators, ensuring a continuous power supply to telecommunications infrastructure during outages.

DFES and Telstra are co-funding the initiative, which allows local residents to activate the units in emergencies, eliminating the need to wait for utility providers. Regional Development Minister Don Punch described the program as essential for maintaining communication during crises. "Being able to communicate quickly and effectively during an emergency is critical," he said.

However, a DFES spokesperson referred to the pilot program as a "temporary workaround." Chappel expressed a desire for a more permanent solution, advocating for additional towers to enhance coverage, especially during peak tourism and emergency response seasons. "It's a pilot program and we're hoping it's so successful that it's rolled out across the state, so the ATUs are in place and there are no interruptions; so lives will be saved," she said.

Telstra's regional general manager, Boyd Brown, noted that the company regularly assesses its sites to ensure backup systems are functioning properly. However, he cautioned that low power levels could still impact service. "Our network sites can use the same amount of power as 10 homes every day, so disruptions will occur if power is out for a long time in your area," Brown explained.