Telstra expands satellite messaging to remote workers

Telstra has extended its satellite messaging service to enterprise customers, offering SMS connectivity for staff who work outside standard mobile coverage in regional and remote areas.

The service is now available as an add-on for eligible Adaptive Mobility plans used by large organisations. It follows an initial launch for consumers and small businesses earlier in the year.

Satellite Messaging works on compatible smartphones that run the latest software. It does not require separate satellite handsets or extra hardware.

Users can send and receive SMS messages via satellite when they are outdoors and have a clear line of sight to the sky. The service operates in most areas on mainland Australia and Tasmania that fall beyond Telstra's existing mobile network footprint.

Telstra said enterprise customers such as utilities and resources companies are assessing the service for crews who operate in remote locations. These include teams that maintain infrastructure or conduct field work far from towns or mobile towers.

The company reported growing use of its satellite-to-mobile services since the initial launch. It said the network now handles around 120,000 satellite connections per day on average across Australia.

Enterprise focus

Telstra Enterprise Group Executive Oliver Camplin-Warner said the new offer adds another option for business customers that manage dispersed workforces.

"We know business doesn't stop when employees need to travel beyond mobile coverage, which Is why there Is a big appetite for this new capability. Since the Initial launch for consumers and small business, I've lost count of the number of customers asking about this new capability and how It might benefit their organisations. Think of the healthcare team working to deliver important services in East Arnhem Land, the construction crew building a new solar farm hundreds of kilometres from the nearest town, or the cattle station beyond Bedourie in outback Queensland," said Camplin-Warner.

He continued, "When you have team members travelling long distances or workers spread across thousands of hectares, staying connected means teams can get the job done more simply, easily, and with greater peace of mind. We're driven by seeing our customers be successful and Telstra Satellite Messaging is just another way we're committed to delivering leading connectivity that helps them stay productive, connected and ready to seize opportunities - wherever their work takes them."

Telstra said the extension to enterprise follows strong interest from sectors where staff travel large distances. It highlighted use cases in healthcare, construction, agriculture and energy.

The company positioned the service as an extra layer of communications that sits alongside existing voice and data services on the mobile network. It said the satellite link can maintain contact when field teams move beyond coverage boundaries during day-to-day operations.

Energy sector trial

Energy Queensland is one of the first large organisations exploring the technology. The company manages electricity distribution networks across a wide geographic area that includes remote and rural communities.

Its staff often work in regions with limited or no mobile coverage. This includes crews that inspect and repair lines after storms or that conduct planned maintenance in isolated locations.

Digital Workplace Platform Manager for Energy Queensland, Justin McIntosh, said frontline workers require reliable ways to stay in touch with colleagues.

"our field teams play a critical role in maintaining electricity supply across Queensland, often operating in locations with limited mobile coverage. Satellite messaging provides an additional layer of connectivity, helping ensure our people can stay in touch and continue delivering essential services to the community safely," said McIntosh.

Energy Queensland is assessing how satellite messaging fits alongside radio systems and other tools it already uses in the field. It is also examining potential use during emergencies when crews must access damaged sites in areas with patchy coverage.

Service limitations

Telstra described Satellite Messaging as an intermittent service. It said the time it takes to send and receive messages varies across locations and devices.

The service relies on the availability of Starlink Direct to Cell satellites. Message delivery can be almost instant in some cases and take many minutes or longer in others.

Telstra stated that the product is not an emergency service. Users cannot send SMS messages to Triple Zero using the satellite connection.

The company advised that travellers and remote workers still need separate contingency measures for emergencies. It said customers planning trips into remote regions should prepare accordingly and take extra precautions.

Telstra plans further education for customers on how to access and use the satellite messaging features on compatible phones as more enterprises evaluate the service for their workforces.