Telstra prepared for holiday internet demand

Measures such as localised service boosting have been implemented to maintain service quality, despite the increased network demand.

“Telstra is well-prepared for an expected four-fold surge in network traffic across key holiday destinations over the Christmas period, like the Milton-Ulladulla area,” a Telstra spokesperson said.

“To maintain the same service quality in spite of significantly increased demand, Telstra has implemented measures including localised service boosting.

“This will help address call congestion and slowing data speeds in more than 100 holiday hotspots across the nation.”

A percentage of the increase of network traffic in coastal towns is likely to be from holidaymakers posting photos of their fun in the sun to social media said Telstra regional general manager Chris Taylor.

“Ninety-two per cent of us admit our mobile phone is an essential item to pack for every trip away, so it’s clear social connectivity is integral to the way we travel today,” he said.

“Telstra’s own network data shows that Aussies love to head to the coast over the summer period, with network traffic significantly increasing in December and January.”

Telstra also acknowledged concerns from residents regarding year-round internet availability in Milton-Ulladulla, with fears additional internet ports are not being created due to the planned NBN rollout late 2017.

Lack of internet ports and geographic proximity to the main Ulladulla exchange are some of the issues for those suffering problems with the internet in the region.

Two backhaul projects designed to decrease congestion issues and provide improved ADSL services have also been completed by Telstra in 2016.

“Customer experience is important to us and we are happy to look into any customer’s circumstances to provide the best possible service option available.”