Mobile Internet
Landline internetTPG, the third mobile network and parent of Vodafone and iiNet
TPG Telecom is the third-largest telecommunications operator in Australia, the result of the 2020 merger between TPG and Vodafone Hutchison Australia. It owns three consumer brands (TPG, Vodafone and iiNet), the third mobile network in Australia (rebranded from Vodafone), and a large fixed-line broadband business sold over the NBN. With around 5 million mobile services and around 2 million fixed-line customers across all brands, TPG is the smallest of the three MNOs but a major force in fixed broadband. The TPG outage map is the first place TPG-branded customers check when their service drops.
- The size of the TPG Telecom group and how the three brands fit together
- Why mobile, NBN and authentication systems all affect the TPG outage profile
- The investments and technologies behind the TPG 5G expansion
- The customer-facing tools, app and what to check first when service is down
Three brands, one network: TPG, Vodafone and iiNet
TPG Telecom is publicly listed on the ASX, with Vodafone Group Plc and Hutchison Telecommunications holding significant stakes following the 2020 merger. It is one of three MNOs in Australia, the smallest by customer base but with growing 5G coverage.
Key figures for the TPG Telecom group:
- Around 5 million mobile services on the Vodafone-branded network.
- Around 2 million fixed-line connections across the TPG, iiNet, Internode and AAPT brands.
- Mobile coverage of around 96% of the population on 4G.
- 5G coverage of around 85% of the metropolitan population, growing into regional centres.
- More than 5,500 mobile sites, with a network sharing agreement with Optus in regional Australia announced in 2024.
The TPG brand focuses on value mobile and fixed-line plans, Vodafone is the premium mobile brand, and iiNet positions itself as a fixed-line ISP for tech-savvy customers. All three brands share the same underlying network.
Why TPG outages can hit one brand or all three at once
Because TPG, Vodafone and iiNet share the same underlying network, outages often cascade across the three brands. Customers on different brands may see the same problem reported differently.
Mobile network faults
Tower failures, transmission backhaul cuts and core network issues affect Vodafone-branded mobile customers and the TPG-branded mobile resellers that ride on the same network.
Authentication and login outages
Several TPG outages in recent years have been caused not by physical network damage but by failures in the customer authentication systems, blocking customers from logging into apps or activating new SIMs.
NBN-side faults
Most TPG, iiNet and Internode home internet is delivered over the NBN, so faults on the wholesale network cause TPG broadband outages. The fault sits with NBN Co, but the customer support relationship stays with the retail brand.
Power outages at the address
Home modems, FTTN nodes and HFC equipment rely on local electricity. When the power goes out, TPG-branded internet usually goes with it. Local cell towers on the Vodafone-branded network also depend on power.
Severe weather and natural disasters
Cyclones, storms, floods and bushfires regularly damage TPG cell towers and backhaul fibre. The Vodafone-branded network has fewer rural sites than Telstra or Optus, so coverage gaps tend to widen in regional Australia during major events.
5G expansion, regional roaming and the Optus network deal
TPG's investment strategy combines a rapid 5G rollout in metro areas with a network-sharing agreement that extends regional mobile coverage without building separate rural towers.
TPG investment highlights
- Around $1 billion per year of capital expenditure on mobile and fixed networks.
- Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) agreement with Optus to extend regional 4G/5G coverage.
- 5G expansion across CBDs and major regional towns.
- Investment in the home internet experience: better modems, 5G Home Internet as an NBN alternative.
5G expansion
TPG is rolling out 5G across metropolitan and major regional centres, with mid-band spectrum providing strong urban speeds. The 5G Home Internet service is positioned as an NBN alternative in eligible suburbs.
Optus network sharing
TPG and Optus announced a Multi-Operator Core Network (MOCN) deal in 2024 to share regional 4G and 5G coverage. The deal lets TPG-branded customers reach Optus-only regional towers, closing a long-standing gap in regional reception.
Home internet experience
TPG and iiNet continue to invest in customer-side technology: better Wi-Fi 6 modems, mesh networking and 5G Home Internet for households where NBN performance is poor.
Outage status, app and the customer toolkit
TPG outage map
TPG publishes a Service Status page that shows known mobile and NBN outages by postcode. Customers can enter their address to check whether a confirmed event is affecting service and the estimated restoration time.
TPG app and brand portals
TPG, Vodafone and iiNet each publish their own customer apps and outage portals, even though the underlying network is shared. Customers on each brand should check their own portal first for the most accurate status information.
Customer support
Customers can reach TPG support 24/7 by phone on 13 14 23, through live chat in the TPG app, or via social media. The three brands maintain separate support teams despite sharing the network.
When a power outage causes a TPG outage
TPG-branded mobile (on the Vodafone network) and TPG NBN broadband both depend on electricity. Home modems, FTTN/HFC equipment and local cell towers can fail when the local power network goes down.
Queensland
South-east Queensland is served by Energex. The rest of Queensland is served by Ergon Energy.
New South Wales
Sydney and the Hunter are served by Ausgrid, Western Sydney by Endeavour Energy, and the rest of NSW by Essential Energy.
Victoria, SA, Tasmania
Eastern Victoria is served by AusNet Services. South Australia is served by SA Power Networks and Tasmania by TasNetworks.
Western Australia
On the South West Interconnected System, Western Power runs the wires and Synergy is the residential retailer.
TPG, Vodafone, iiNet and the wider Australian internet market
For a wider view of how Australia's broadband and mobile market is structured, see the Australian internet outage page. The TPG group also owns the Vodafone mobile brand and the iiNet fixed-line ISP, alongside Internode and AAPT. Its competitors with their own mobile networks are Telstra and Optus. For fixed-line broadband, the four major retail ISPs all resell wholesale access from the NBN.