Telstra will deliver interim services to remote customers who have waited more than six months for a first standard telephone service (STS), in an agreement with the federal government.

The service will apply to Telstra customers living in areas with fewer than 200 people and where there is no telecommunications infrastructure, officials said.

Under negotiations with the Australian Communications Authority (ACA) and the federal government, these customers would only be charged at the relevant public switched telephone service rates whilst using the interim service.

Telstra will deliver the service via satellite or other available technologies and is obliged to put the service in place before August 1.