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1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitches3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsTelstra’s planned mobile-network upgrade in Manjimup, Western Australia, disrupted mobile data and some EFTPOS operations during April 2025. The local complaint was not that Telstra gave no warning: Ree-Wind Clothing owner Lee Anne King said an SMS arrived on March 31, only days before work was due to begin on April 2. Her concern was that the notice came too late to arrange a workable backup.
Telstra said the work would improve the site’s 4G experience and prepare it for 5G. Its published schedule included several daytime outages and testing windows, but the available report does not establish whether 5G was activated, whether service improvements were measured, or whether the work finished on schedule.
What happened in Manjimup
Telstra took the mobile base station serving Manjimup offline at stages while carrying out a major upgrade. That made the incident different from an isolated handset or account fault: services relying on that site could be unavailable or degraded during the work.
PerthNow reported that businesses had trouble processing EFTPOS transactions, while some customers could not use mobile data or transfer money by phone. The report names Ree-Wind Clothing as a directly affected business, but it does not quantify the number of businesses affected or establish that every business in town lost service.
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Customers carrying little or no cash were particularly exposed. However, an EFTPOS failure is not automatic whenever Telstra mobile service fails. The result depends on whether a terminal uses Telstra mobile data, shop Wi-Fi, fixed broadband, another carrier, or an approved offline mode.
What businesses were told, and when
King said her SMS warning arrived on March 31, 2025, with work due to start on April 2. The message reportedly described works lasting about 12 days. The report did not independently confirm the precise date Telstra sent the SMS or whether all businesses received identical wording.
That distinction matters. The complaint was about preparation time, not necessarily the existence of the upgrade. A retailer may need days or weeks to ask its bank about a different EFTPOS connection, install a second internet service, configure a router, organise cash procedures and tell customers what to expect.
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The available report does not establish a general legal minimum notice period for Telstra’s planned base-station work, nor does it show that Telstra breached one.
Telstra’s stated outage schedule
The following dates and times were provided by Telstra in the statement reported by PerthNow:
| Date | Telstra’s description |
|---|---|
| April 2, 3 and 7, 2025 | Outages of up to eight hours between 8am and 5pm |
| April 10 and 11 | Continuous outage between 8am and 5pm |
| April 12 and 13 | Possible intermittent outages or reduced performance during testing |
| April 16 | Contingency date if work was delayed |
These were planned windows, not a claim that Manjimup experienced one uninterrupted 12-day outage. Telstra said it was trying to minimise downtime and that fixed, satellite, landline and other-provider mobile services were not affected by the work. The availability and quality of those alternatives at each premises were not independently verified.
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Why Telstra said the work was necessary
Telstra said it was upgrading the Manjimup base station to improve the local 4G experience and prepare the community for 5G. It also said temporarily taking the site offline was necessary for major upgrade work. Those are Telstra’s stated objectives; the available material does not confirm the final completion date, a 5G launch, or measurable performance gains.
How a business can keep taking payments
The most important test is whether the backup connection is genuinely independent of the affected Telstra site. A second handset or hotspot using the same Telstra network is not a dependable fallback for a Telstra tower upgrade.
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Use fixed broadband or NBN
Telstra advised businesses to ask their bank about connecting EFTPOS terminals to NBN or fixed Wi-Fi. This is often the simplest permanent arrangement for a shop because it can also support point-of-sale software, cloud accounting and staff devices. Confirm that the particular terminal and merchant account support the connection; changing the shop’s Wi-Fi alone may not be enough if the terminal is locked to mobile service.
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Add another mobile network
A SIM from another provider, a hotspot or a dual-SIM router can be quick to deploy. Test coverage inside the actual premises, not just on a coverage map, and confirm that the payment provider permits the terminal to use that connection. A shared physical failure, weak indoor signal or small data allowance can make this less independent than it appears.
Consider satellite where terrestrial options are inadequate
Starlink markets Australian business connectivity for remote and backup use. Its Australian pages displayed Local Priority plans from A$84 a month for 50GB, A$236 for 500GB, A$426 for 1TB and A$806 for 2TB when checked in August 2026. Prices and presentation can vary by address and page, so verify the current offer before ordering at Starlink’s business mobility page and service-plan page.
Starlink says its service needs a clear view of the sky and offers a 30-day refund trial. It does not guarantee EFTPOS continuity: the bank must allow the terminal to operate through the satellite connection. Hardware, installation, power and congestion also affect suitability. Starlink’s business information is available at starlink.com/business.
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Keep a cash and power fallback
Cash can keep transactions moving temporarily, but it is not a complete substitute when visitors expect to pay by card. Keep a secure, lawful cash procedure, printed or digital receipts, and clear staff instructions. Also consider battery backup for routers, terminals and phones: an independent internet path is useless if the equipment loses power.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.A practical outage-preparation checklist
- Identify how every EFTPOS terminal, register, alarm, phone and cloud service connects.
- Ask the bank or payment provider whether each terminal can use fixed broadband, Wi-Fi, another carrier or an approved offline mode.
- Install a genuinely separate connection and test failover before planned work begins.
- Confirm data limits, latency, indoor coverage, installation time and recurring cost.
- Keep charged phones, a router or hotspot, and battery backup available.
- Prepare secure cash-handling and receipt procedures without describing transactions as offline unless the provider authorises that mode.
- Tell staff what to do when a payment is declined and notify customers early if card service may be unreliable.
- Record outage dates, failed transactions and documented losses if pursuing a complaint or service-credit request.
Questions to ask before the next planned outage
- What is the first expected outage date and the complete work window?
- Which hours are complete outages, and which are intermittent or testing periods?
- Will voice calls, SMS, data, or all mobile services be affected?
- Which base station and surrounding area are covered?
- What is the contingency date if work slips?
- How will delay or completion notices be issued?
- Where will current status information be posted?
- Is there a business or technical contact for payment-connectivity questions?
- Could emergency calling be affected, or only ordinary service?
What remains unresolved
The April 16, 2025 report did not confirm whether the works finished by April 13 or the April 16 contingency date, whether 5G was activated, how much performance improved, how many businesses were affected, or whether Telstra offered compensation or changed its notification practice. Those points should not be presented as settled outcomes.
The clearest lesson is narrower: planned network work may be necessary, but warning is useful only when it arrives early enough for a business to test an independent payment and communications path.
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