Australia has entered an era of climate instability, where communications during bushfires and extreme weather must perform under increasingly severe conditions.

Digital services such as the VicEmergency app and mobile fire alerts have become central to how people receive bushfire warnings. They work well in everyday conditions, but rely on mobile phone coverage and household electricity.

However, the communications networks that support these essential services have not been adequately strengthened. And older technologies, such as the copper landline network, have been removed or altered without their essential emergency function being fully replaced.

As a result, regional bushfire prone communities are more exposed when communications are critical. During last week’s Ravenswood fire, which devastated Harcourt and threatened neighbouring Castlemaine, this is exactly what happened.

Two key changes in communications technology have altered how landline and mobile services can function during emergencies.

The National Broadband Network is replacing the old copper landline network. During a power outage, copper landlines still worked because electricity was supplied through the phone line itself. Of course, if a copper line was damaged by fire, the service would fail. But if lines remained intact, regional households could make calls during power blackouts.

In contrast, the NBN network relies entirely on mains electricity. Successive governments have chosen not to require universal battery backup for NBN connections. As a result, fixed line communication fails when electricity is lost, unless households have installed backup power at their own expense.

The shutdown of the 3G network in October 2024 has also reduced mobile coverage in some regional areas.

Retiring 3G services freed radio spectrum up for faster 4G and........

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