Telstra highlights vital role of iconic phone box in new work via +61 with Bear Meets Eagle On Fire

Telstra has launched a new campaign via +61, Bear Meets Eagle On Fire and OMD, highlighting the vital role Telstra’s phone boxes play in supporting communities by providing free calls and Wi-Fi.

For years, Telstra public phones have always been beacons of connection – and since making all standard national and mobile calls free back in August 2021, public phone usage has more than tripled. They’ve become vital lifelines to call for help in emergencies or crisis situations, stay connected through natural disasters, or simply reach out when a mobile phone isn’t available for use.

While they’ve come in many shapes and sizes and continue to evolve, there’s one iconic silhouette that stands out. And Telstra is using this unique shape to shine a light on some of the ways in which these public phones support communities across Australia.

There are countless stories of how public phones have been critical for communities in disaster prone areas. Communities like the coastal town of Narooma where one of the public phones became a hub of activity and connectivity during the 2019-20 South Coast fires. When many were without power or signal, almost 1,000 calls were made in just two months.

Public phones have become an invaluable resource for some of Australia’s most vulnerable communities – such as those experiencing homelessness.

About 339,000 calls were made to crisis and support lines from our phones, last year helping those most in need.

As community needs shift, so have Telstra’s public phones. Since August 2021 all local and national calls to standard Australian fixed line numbers and mobiles have been free and today, over 4000 public phones also offer free Wi-Fi, with plans to expand this service to even more locations.

Telstra in the process of completing upgrades to 1,000 of its public phones to improve disaster resilience, adding backup power to help keep people connected when it matters most.