Telstra CEO Andy Penn announced this week volunteer firefighters would be able to get free mobile bills for December to January.

He said the country had witnessed confronting scenes over the fire season and been awed at by the volunteers battling the blazes. 

“Today we’re doing our part to thank our volunteer firefighters by providing them with free mobile bills over December and January,” Mr Penn said.

“We understand how important it is to reach out to friends and family during times of crisis, and we want to do all we can to help.”

“This new assistance package means that we will cover the cost of volunteer firefighter’s mobile phone bills over the period of December and January. 

“We want to do this to show our thanks to firefighters for their efforts in helping keep communities safe.”

He said volunteer firefighter should contact Telstra on 13 22 03 to register for the free calls over December and January.

Telstra has been working with emergency services in fire-affected areas since late October last year, including the Fassifern, providing towers to boost radio signals.

He said Telstra Customers who have had to leave their homes, or lost their homes due to the bushfires should also call 13 22 03 to register for the assistance package.

Telstra relief packages can include the following:

Short term measures (for Telstra customers who have a short-term impact – temporary evacuation of premises or temporary fault):

• Free use of Telstra public payphones in the affected areas
• Free use of Telstra Air payphone hotspots in the affected areas
• Free call diversion from an affected fixed home or business phone service to another fixed or mobile service of the customer’s choice, regardless of the carrier
• Customers who use the free call diversion to divert their affected fixed home or business phone to their Telstra mobile service can also make local and STD® calls on their mobile at fixed-line rates, in accordance with their selected plan (limited to one designated Telstra mobile per affected household or business.
• Affected Telstra mobile customers who do not have a Telstra home phone can receive a one-off credit to the value of $100 inc. GST (limited to one mobile phone per Telstra mobile account).
• The above offers are applicable until network damage in the area due to fire is repaired, or while customers remain evacuated, for a maximum period of three months from the date of the fires.

Long-term measures (for Telstra customers who have suffered severe damage to or loss of their premises):

• Free call diversion from the customer’s Telstra fixed phone service to another Australian fixed or mobile service of their choice, regardless of the carrier. This offer is applicable for a maximum period of 6 months from the date of the fire.
• In addition, Telstra will apply a one-off credit to the value of $500 inc. GST to the customer’s Telstra fixed phone account to help cover the costs of the following, if required: Connection of a Telstra fixed phone service at one temporary residence
• Re-connection of a Telstra fixed phone service at the customer’s original permanent premises
• For states affected by the bushfires, customers can read more about the disaster relief packages that are available for Victoria, New South Wales, South Australia, and Queensland.
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