B&TB&TB&T
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Search
Trending topics:
  • Cairns Crocodiles
  • Nine
  • Seven
  • Federal Election
  • Pinterest
  • AFL
  • AI
  • WPP
  • Anthony Albanese
  • NRL
  • EssenceMediaCom
  • Thinkerbell
  • Channel 10
  • News Corp
  • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • State of Origin
  • Cairns Hatchlings
  • TV Ratings
  • Radio Ratings
  • Sports Marketing

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
Reading: Telstra Payphones Battle Goes To Federal Court
Share
B&TB&T
Subscribe
Search
  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Technology
  • Regulars
    • Agency Scorecards
    • Best of the Best
    • Campaigns of the Month
    • CMO Power List
    • CMOs to Watch
    • Culture Bites
    • Fast 10
    • New Business Winners
    • Spotlight on Sponsors
  • Jobs
  • Awards
    • 30 Under 30
    • B&T Awards
    • Cairns Crocodiles
    • Women In Media
    • Women Leading Tech
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.
B&T > Media > Telstra Payphones Battle Goes To Federal Court
Media

Telstra Payphones Battle Goes To Federal Court

Staff Writers
Published on: 10th May 2019 at 9:31 AM
Staff Writers
Share
3 Min Read
SHARE

Telstra has taken its city council dispute over the installation of payphones with large billboards to Federal Court as the tel-co giant tries to save both time and money.

Telstra’s general counsel, legal and corporate affairs Carmel Mulhern said the move would help streamline the issue, with the Federal Court set to rule if the new digital billboards fall under the “low-impact facilities” criteria of the Telecommunications Act.

If it does, the billboards would not require regulation by local councils.

Telstra is currently battling the City of Melbourne after it knocked back 81 advertising applications on Telstra’s new giant payphones, with the phone company set to lose millions from the decision.

Off the back of that, the City of Sydney joined Melbourne in the fight against Telstra to stop the telco brand from installing new payphones with advertising display panels around the city.

The City of Sydney said it did not believe Telstra was “entitled” to install or upgrade the payphones, confirming it would continue to look at other options.

A spokesperson from the City of Sydney said in a statement: “The City of Sydney currently has agreements in place with Telstra and JCDecaux for the installation of payphones in our local government area. These agreements are due to expire next year.

“Our view is that the new or upgraded payphones are not intended to be designed solely for use as a content and carriage service.”

The payphones are currently being upgraded in a partnership between Telstra and JC Decaux, which could deliver $1 billion in OOH advertising across Australia.

JCDecaux and Telstra argue the upgraded digital panels fall under the federal Telecommunications Act criteria for low-impact facilities, which makes them exempt from state and local council regulation.

Mulhern said: “Because we operate a national payphone network, we think the best path is to ask the Federal Court to decide whether our new payphones are a low impact facility, so we have one judgment that applies across Australia.”

However, the upgrades have been a cause for concern amongst the councils who worry they will not be able to control the billboards or receive any revenue.

The City of Sydney also said it has “serious concerns” over the billboards, claiming it will reduce its “control of footpaths and public spaces” and its “ability to ensure that the design and location of these enlarged payphones doesn’t negatively impact pedestrians or businesses.”

 

Join more than 30,000 advertising industry experts
Get all the latest advertising and media news direct to your inbox from B&T.

No related posts.

TAGGED: Telstra
Share
Staff Writers
By Staff Writers
Follow:
Staff Writers represent B&T's team of award-winning reporters. Here, you'll find articles crafted with industry experience spanning over 50 years. Our team of specialists brings together a wealth of knowledge and a commitment to delivering insightful, topical, and breaking news. With a deep understanding of advertising and media, our Staff Writers are dedicated to providing industry-leading analysis and reporting, both shaping the conversation and setting the benchmark for excellence.

Latest News

TV Ratings (12/6/2025): 1.4 Million People Viewed The Western Bulldogs Kicking Its Way Into The Top Eight
13/06/2025
WARC Downgrades Global Ad Spend Forecast Amid “Trade Tensions” & Uncertain Tech Market
13/06/2025
Marketers Call For Measurement ‘Parity’ In Video, But One Buyer Warns ‘Be Careful What You Wish For’
13/06/2025
Meta Cracks Down On Nudify Apps & Sues Hong Kong Developer Behind CrushAI
13/06/2025
//

B&T is Australia’s leading news publication magazine for the advertising, marketing, media and PR industries.

 

B&T is owned by parent company The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd.

About B&T

  • About
  • Contact
  • Editorial Guidelines
  • Privacy
  • Terms
  • Advertise

Top Categories

  • Advertising
  • Campaigns
  • Marketing
  • Media
  • Opinion
  • Technology
  • TV Ratings

Sign Up for Our Newsletter



B&TB&T
Follow US
© 2025 B&T. The Misfits Media Company Pty Ltd. All Rights Reserved.
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Register Lost your password?