General News
26 June, 2026
Aged landline infrastructure discontinued
Moliagul residents have been left to arrange an alternative landline set up after provider Southern Phones recently discontinued the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).
PSTN landline ended in April after customers were informed Southern Phones would be switch-ing to more modern technology.
Moliagul resident Lyn Gale received a letter from Southern Phones in March this year informing her the landline would therefore be disconnected.
“They gave probably about six weeks notice, and we know nobody in that time was able to get another provider because nobody was going to be able to support [the old lines],” she said.
“We have just got the old copper wiring, but it is not being supported anymore, and it’s an awful big area to have to re-do the whole thing.”
Ms Gale said she was informed about the transition weeks before the landline was cut.
However, The Maryborough District Advertiser understands Southern Phones began informing customers it would be doing a planned exit of the PTSN, a network of copper lines, fibre optic cables and switching centres that connect landline phones, between December 2025 and January 2026.
“Southern Phones sent us a message to say we had a month and the landline would be disconnected,” Ms Gale said.
“They said we would need to investigate to see if we could get another provider, which we did.”
Communications were provided to residents in several intervals, which included physical mail outs, emails and phone calls. Follow up reminders were then sent to customers 60 days, 30 days and seven days prior to disconnection, reminding customers of the change, with multiple steps outlining required for continued use of their home phone service set up and current number.
SMSs were also sent to customers, along with support for those who may wish to keep landlines and change to a different provider, or different service Southern Phone offers.
The Advertiser understands residents can still have a landline if they sign up to another Southern Phones service that was offered.
But Ms Gale said she was unable to do so.
“We got on the phone and rang quite a few times, and some of them aren’t viable here at all,” she said.
“Unless our Wi-Fi is working, we can’t even pick up the Telstra signal on our mobile. We are in a bit of a blind spot, and we can only rely on our Wi-Fi.”
Ms Gale is also concerned the transition has impacted Moliagul’s elderly residents the most, with sudden reliance on mobile being impractical.
“[Another resident] is an older person, she’s found it really difficult. Her daughter tried to chase it up for her ... and her daughter had to organise a new mobile phone and teach her how to use it and she’s not coping with it,” she said.
“We’re just remembering everyone who has got a landline number, and having to get in touch with everyone, often we wouldn’t hand our mobile number out because we had the landline, so we have really had to think about it and get in touch with everyone. [Our landline] is obsolete now.
“It looks like there is nothing we can do about it, but we understand the progress. They expect you to have a mobile, which we do, but people should be allowed to have their choice.”
While the cut off date has passed, customers are advised to contact their phone provider’s customer service line on their mobile.