August 3, 2021
Local and national phone calls to standard fixed line numbers, and calls to standard Australian mobile phones, are now free at Telstra’s public payphones.
Telstra CEO Andrew Penn said this meant anyone could now use any of the 15,000 payphones throughout the country at no charge.
“Payphones have been part of Australia’s landscape since they were first used in the 1880s, and at one point – just before the arrival of mobiles – there were more than double the number that we have today,” Mr Penn said.
“Since mobiles became nearly universal, a lot of Australians might not give them much thought. Until there’s a natural disaster; until you’re in vulnerable circumstances, homeless or fleeing domestic violence.
“That’s why I decided it’s time to make payphones free. Because even in the age of the smartphone they play such a critical role in our community, particularly in times of need, and particularly for those in need.
Mr Penn said payphones were a lifeline for thousands of vulnerable Australians including the homeless, isolated and people escaping domestic violence.
Australians made 11 million calls on payphones last year, including more than 230,000 calls to vital services such as Triple Zero.
