What is CAN RADIO / HCRC?
CAN Radio (also known as HCRC, Radio Phone, SCARS, DCARS or MCARS) is a legacy Telstra voice service that has connected rural and remote premises for decades using radio technology, to provide a Standard Telephone Service (STS).
Telstra has advised that the CAN Radio/HCRC network has reached the end of its operational life. Telstra have stated these services can no longer be maintained, and that it will be retiring these services and migrating customers to replacement technologies by 16 November 2027.
Customers will be contacted directly by Telstra about their service and the replacement technology being offered. Migrations will occur progressively, with customers contacted in stages or “batches”, meaning not all CAN Radio/HCRC customers in an area will receive migration information at the same time.
For many rural and remote Australians, this is more than simply changing a home phone service. The replacement technology will have different power requirements, equipment, installation needs and operating characteristics. Taking the time to understand these changes before agreeing to migrate will help ensure the replacement service is suitable for your needs.
Telstra Can RADIO / HCRC Fact Sheet
What IS CAN RADIO/HCRC being replaced with ?
Telstra is using two main technologies to replace CAN Radio/HCRC services. Depending on your location and available coverage, Telstra will offer one of the following replacement technologies:
Telstra 4G Fixed Wireless Voice – a home phone service delivered over Telstra’s 4G mobile network. Availability will depend on Telstra assessing suitable coverage and network access at your property.
Telstra Satellite Voice (powered by Starlink) – a home phone service delivered via the Starlink satellite network, generally offered in more remote areas where mobile coverage is unavailable or unsuitable.
Each service operates differently and has different equipment, installation, coverage, power and resilience considerations. For more detailed information about how each service works, its limitations, power and backup requirements, and what to expect once connected, see:
➡️ BIRRR 4G Fixed Wireless Voice – Consumer Guide
➡️ BIRRR Telstra Satellite Voice (powered by Starlink) – Consumer Guide
Your Rights Don’t Change
Although the technology used to deliver your home phone service is changing, your replacement Telstra home phone service will continue to be a Standard Telephone Service (STS) delivered under the Universal Service Obligation (USO). Your rights and consumer protections do not disappear simply because the technology changes.
To learn more about your rights under the Universal Service Obligation and the Customer Service Guarantee, visit:
➡️ BIRRR Landline Phones and the Universal Service Obligation (USO)
➡️ BIRRR Home Phone Connection, Faults and Repairs
Understanding your replacement technology
Both replacement service technologies provide a Standard Telephone Service (STS), but they operate differently and have different limitations. Before placing your order, ask Telstra to explain why the proposed replacement technology has been selected for your property, how its suitability was assessed and what will change compared with your existing CAN Radio/HCRC service.
Before placing your order, ask Telstra to confirm in writing:
– Why has this technology been recommended for your property? Has your property been assessed to confirm this technology is suitable?
– What are the known limitations of this technology at your location and how is the service likely to perform during severe weather, network outages or congestion?
– What happens if the proposed technology is found to be unsuitable or does not perform reliably after installation?
Before You Place Your Order
There are a number of practical things to consider before placing your order, including equipment and installation, costs, your existing phone number and services, power requirements, billing, connected devices and ongoing support. Work through the information below before placing your order. At the end of this guide, we’ve included a simple checklist to help you ask Telstra the right questions and record the information you are given.
1. Equipment, installation and costs
Your new Telstra voice service should cost $50 per month, with a $10 monthly discount for eligible health care card or concession card holders. There should be no equipment or installation fees associated with the migration. In some circumstances, a modem return fee may apply if you cancel the service within 24 months. This fee is waived if the modem is returned to Telstra.
The equipment and installation requirements will differ depending on which replacement technology Telstra has offered you. More detailed information is available in BIRRR’s individual 4G Fixed Wireless Voice and Telstra Satellite Voice consumer guides.
Telstra will provide a free professional installation for Telstra Satellite Voice, and where antennas or other mounted equipment are required for a 4G Fixed Wireless Voice installations. Both replacement services use a Telstra Smart Modem, which requires power to operate.
Important: If you receive correspondence suggesting that you need to self-install your replacement service, arrange your own technician or purchase a mount or other installation equipment, contact your Telstra case manager before proceeding. Customers being migrated from CAN Radio/HCRC should not be required to purchase equipment or arrange and pay for the professional installation required for their replacement service.
2. Priority Assistance
If someone living at your property has a diagnosed life-threatening medical condition and relies on a home phone service, you may be eligible for Telstra Priority Assistance. If you are already registered, confirm that your Priority Assistance status will transfer to your replacement service. If you believe you may be eligible, ask your Telstra case manager or visit Telstra’s Priority Assistance webpage to apply.
Let your Telstra case manager know as early as possible if anyone at the property relies on the home phone for medical reasons.
3. Your Phone Number
You have the right to keep your existing landline phone number. As part of the migration, Telstra may initially connect your replacement service using a temporary phone number while your existing number is transferred to the new service. Once the transfer is complete, your original phone number will become active on your replacement service.
Your existing MessageBank will not be transferred to the new home phone service and will be permanently deleted, so save any important messages before migration. MessageBank will need to be set up again on your new service. Telstra provides information on how to set up MessageBank. Calling features such as Caller ID/Calling Number Display may also need to be re-enabled after migration.
Do not agree for your existing service to be disconnected until your replacement service has been installed, tested and your existing phone number has been successfully transferred.
4. Power requirements
One of the biggest changes from CAN Radio/HCRC is that your replacement voice service will require power at your premises to operate. Telstra states that the replacement services require a reliable 230–240V power supply.
If you live off-grid (without mains power access) or experience unreliable mains power, it is particularly important to consider how you will keep your home phone operating during a power outage or a problem with your property’s power system. Both replacement technologies require equipment at your premises to remain powered. If that equipment loses power, your home phone service may not work, including for calls to Triple Zero (000).
NB: Telstra may provide battery backup equipment for eligible Priority Assistance customers. If you are registered for Priority Assistance, check with Telstra what backup power arrangements will apply to your replacement service.
For more information about power requirements and backup options, see:
➡️ BIRRR BIRRR’s Power & Your Home Phone Guide
Your replacement home phone service requires power at your premises to operate. During an extended power outage, the service will not work unless suitable backup power is available.
4G Fixed Wireless Voice also relies on the mobile network remaining operational. A power outage or other failure affecting your local mobile network may also affect
your home phone service.
5. Billing & identification
Moving to a new voice service may involve changes to your Telstra plan, account or billing arrangements, and you may be asked to complete identification or verification again as part of the migration. Before placing your order, check whether the migration will change your account number, billing arrangements, existing discounts or concessions, payment method, email services, or any other services currently linked or bundled with your account. If your service is held in a business name, confirm how the new service will be set up and whether it will remain on your existing business account.
This is also a good opportunity to make sure your account authorities, service and postal addresses, and contact details are up to date.
6. Redundancy / Backup
No communications technology is 100% reliable. Consider how you will stay connected if your replacement home phone service becomes unavailable due to a power outage, equipment failure, severe weather or network outage. If your home phone and broadband rely on the same equipment or network, a single failure may affect both services at the same time.
BIRRR encourages a layered approach to connectivity, where practical and affordable. If you are offered a plan that bundles your home phone and broadband, consider the implications for redundancy before deciding whether it is right for you. Having your voice and broadband services on different networks or technologies can provide an additional way to stay connected if one service fails. This may be particularly important if you have limited or no mobile coverage, unreliable power or are regularly affected by severe weather.
Don’t put all your eggs in one basket. Consider whether your home phone, broadband and backup communications provide enough redundancy for your circumstances.
To explore other broadband and connectivity options available at your location, see
➡️ BIRRR BIRRR’s Getting Connected Guide.
If you have limited or no mobile coverage, ensure you have at least two independent ways to communicate. Where possible, these should use different networks or technologies so one failure doesn’t leave you without a backup.
7. Support
While your migration is underway, BIRRR recommends using the contact details provided in your Telstra migration correspondence, particularly if you have been assigned a case manager.
Once your replacement service is connected, use Telstra’s normal fault and support channels. Keep a record of fault reference numbers, dates, appointments and advice provided.
➡️ BIRRR Home Phone Connections, Faults & Repairs
➡️ BIRRR Getting Help or Raising Concerns
Telstra Regional Helpline 
1800 990 853 
7 days a week, 7 am–11 pm AEST
8. Connected Devices
If you have devices connected to your current CAN Radio/HCRC service, check whether they will continue to work with your replacement home phone service before your existing service is disconnected. These may include:
- Medical alarms or personal emergency response systems (Medi-alert)
- Back-to-base security or fire alarms
- EFTPOS terminals
- Fax machines
- Auto-diallers
- Monitoring systems or other equipment that relies on a landline connection
Some older devices may not be compatible with modern voice services or may require reprogramming, replacement or an alternative method of connection. Connected devices may also stop working during a power or network outage.
Contact the manufacturer or service provider for any connected device and confirm it is compatible with your replacement home phone service before your CAN Radio/HCRC service is disconnected.
9. CAN RADIO / HCRC Tower Ownership
If you are interested in taking ownership of the existing CAN Radio/HCRC tower or associated battery equipment at your property, BIRRR can provide contact details for the relevant Telstra team. Please note that not all towers or equipment are owned by Telstra or are able to be transferred to the property owner.
Contact BIRRR for details: birrraus@gmail.com
Ready to Speak to Telstra ?
Once you’ve worked through the information above, use BIRRR’s CAN Radio/HCRC Migration Checklist & Email Template to help you prepare for your conversation with Telstra. The checklist brings together the key questions to ask about your replacement technology, installation, costs, phone number, power, billing, connected devices and ongoing support.
You can also copy and paste the included email template, remove any questions that aren’t relevant to your circumstances, and send it to your Telstra case manager to request the information you need before placing your order.
➡️ BIRRR Download: BIRRR’s CAN Radio/HCRC Migration Checklist & Email Template
Do I have other options ?
Telstra’s replacement services are designed to continue providing a Standard Telephone Service (STS) under the Universal Service Obligation (USO). However, depending on your circumstances, you may also wish to consider other ways of making and receiving calls.
The options below are not USO voice services and do not attract the same USO obligations or consumer protections that apply to your Telstra Standard Telephone Service. Consider these differences carefully before cancelling a USO voice service.
Alternative communication options may include:
- VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol) – making and receiving calls over a separate broadband service, such as nbn Satellite, a Wireless Internet Service Provider (WISP), or a Starlink service purchased directly from Starlink.
- Wi-Fi Calling (VoWiFi) – using a compatible mobile phone to make and receive calls over a Wi-Fi (broadband) connection when mobile coverage is unavailable or poor.
- Mobile Phone – where suitable mobile coverage is available, a mobile service may meet some or all of your voice communication needs.
- Satellite Phone – a dedicated satellite voice service that can provide communications outside terrestrial mobile coverage.
- Satellite Messaging Devices – devices such as ZOLEO and Garmin inReach can provide messaging and other communication features via satellite when away from terrestrial coverage.
- Satellite-to-Mobile (Direct-to-Device) – emerging services that allow compatible mobile phones to connect directly to satellites when outdoors and outside terrestrial mobile coverage. Availability and capabilities vary by provider, handset, plan and location.
- Starlink Mini (Standby/Backup) – a portable Starlink service that can be placed on a Standby Plan or activated when needed. A Starlink Mini can be powered from a vehicle or other suitable power source, making it useful as a backup at home or for communications away from the homestead. It requires a suitable view of the sky and relies on the Starlink network, so it may not provide true network redundancy if your primary voice or broadband service also uses Starlink.
- Existing HCRC Infrastructure / DIY Solution – in some circumstances, existing HCRC infrastructure at your property, such as a tower or mast, may be able to be repurposed to support a DIY solution, for example mounting communications equipment or antennas to utilise the existing solar panels and batteries. This would be at your own cost, not all HCRC infrastructure will be suitable, and you will need to navigate Telstra’s tower ownership/transfer process where the infrastructure is eligible. BIRRR recommends only exploring this after your HCRC migration is complete and your replacement home phone service has been installed, tested and is working. If you are interested in finding out more about obtaining ownership of the HCRC/CAN RADIO equipment and repurposing it, email birrraus@gmail.com and BIRRR can provide further information and the relevant Telstra contact.
These options have different costs, coverage, power requirements, capabilities and limitations. Some may be better suited as a backup service rather than a replacement for your home phone.
This section is currently being developed and will be expanded as new technologies and providers become available.
Getting Help or Raising Concerns
If you are having issues or are concerned about the migration of your home phone service, have received incorrect or conflicting information, or are concerned that the proposed change may result in a loss of communications resilience or redundancy, there are a number of avenues available to raise your concerns.
➡️ BIRRR Getting Help or Raising Concerns guide
Key Takeaways
- Ask questions and get important information in writing before agreeing to migrate. Ask questions, post on BIRRR if you are unsure, or email us – birrraus@gmail.com
- Do not disconnect your existing CAN Radio/HCRC service until your replacement service is installed, tested and working and your existing phone number has been transferred.
- Power, resilience and redundancy matter. Make sure you understand how your replacement service will operate during power, equipment and network outages.
- Do not assume advice from providers/sales reps is always correct.
Disclaimer: This information was prepared by Better Internet for Rural, Regional & Remote Australia (BIRRR) by numerous volunteers, using our lived experience and Telstra Fact sheets and updated in August 2026 as a general consumer information resource. Information, regulatory requirements, service arrangements, timeframes and compensation amounts may change. BIRRR recommends confirming current information with your service provider, the ACMA or relevant Australian Government agency. This information is general in nature and does not constitute legal advice.