I hear this on the job all the time. I’m mobile — I go on-site wherever the work is: offices and suites, workshops and sheds, homes, and everything in between.
“Is Telstra shutting down BigPond email? I’ve had @bigpond.com for twenty years. I don’t want to change.”
The rumour has been going around for years. Friends share it. Facebook posts share it. Some websites even write as if it is already happening.
I looked for official information from Telstra. Here is the simple version.
The short answer
No. Telstra says BigPond email is not shutting down.
On Telstra’s own help pages they say, in plain words:
- BigPond email is not shutting down.
- All existing BigPond email accounts will continue to be supported.
- They know people use it for family, friends, and business.
- They also say there are often false rumours about Telstra Mail closing.
That is official Telstra wording, not a Facebook post. You can read it here:
- Telstra email help — “Bigpond email is not shutting down”
- Telstra Mail FAQ — “Is Telstra Mail shutting down?”
If you are a current BigPond user and you keep using the address, you do not have to change just because of this rumour.
Why does the rumour keep coming back?
A few things get mixed up. They sound like “email is dying.” They are not the same thing.
1. A website is closing — not your inbox
Telstra is closing the Telstra Media website on 26 August 2026.
That is a website, not your email address.
Telstra says you can still open webmail and your Telstra account on the main Telstra site. They even say your account is safe, and nothing is happening to your email.
Details: We’re closing the Telstra Media website
If you used an old bookmark that started with media.telstra.com.au, that page may stop. Your @bigpond.com address is a different thing.
2. Old news and walk-backs
Over the years there have been stories that Telstra would get out of email. Some later reports said those plans were walked back. That kind of back-and-forth is how rumours stay alive for a decade.
When in doubt, use Telstra’s current pages — not a blog from 2022 or 2025 that never got updated.
3. Scam emails
Scammers love this rumour. They send messages that look like Telstra and say:
- “Your BigPond mailbox is closing — click here”
- “Confirm your password or lose your email”
- “Pay us to keep your address”
Telstra says they will not email you asking for banking details, or asking you to agree to terms by clicking a link.
If a message pushes you to panic and click, treat it as a scam until you have checked on the real Telstra website yourself. Do not use a link inside the email. Type telstra.com.au, sign in, or phone Telstra.
What can still go wrong with a BigPond address
The service is not being switched off tomorrow. You can still lose access if you ignore a few rules.
Use it now and then.
Telstra says you need to use the email at least once every 180 days (about six months). If you do not, they may suspend it.
If you leave Telstra for phone or internet.
You can tell them you want to keep the email when you close other services. You still need to use it every 180 days. Ask Telstra at the time you leave. Do not assume it stays forever if you never log in.
Password and login changes.
Telstra has changed how you sign in over the years (Telstra ID, app passwords for Outlook, and so on). That is annoying. It is not the same as deleting @bigpond.com for everyone.
Help if the account is suspended: Why is my Telstra Mail suspended?
Do you have to move?
No. If Telstra’s current pages are right, you can keep using @bigpond.com.
Some people still choose to move. Common reasons:
- They want email that is not tied to one phone company.
- They are tired of login hassles.
- They want a name that does not say “BigPond” (a brand Telstra retired years ago).
- They want extra privacy.
That is a personal choice. It is not because the rumour is confirmed.
If you want a new email — simple options
Think of a new email as a new letterbox. Your old one can stay open while you tell people the new address, one by one.
You do not have to switch everything on day one.
Google — Gmail (@gmail.com)
Very common. Easy on phones. Works with Android and iPhone. Good for people who already use YouTube or a Google account.
Start at: mail.google.com
Good for: most families, everyday use.
Less good if: you do not want Google reading mail to show ads (they have rules; some people still prefer not to use them).
Microsoft — Outlook (@outlook.com)
Also very common. Fits well if you already use Windows, Outlook, or Xbox. You can use it in a browser or in the Outlook app.
Start at: outlook.live.com
Good for: Windows users, people who like Outlook.
Less good if: you already find Microsoft sign-ins confusing. Take it slowly, or ask someone to sit with you.
Proton Mail — more private
Made for people who want stronger privacy. Based outside the big US ad companies. There is a free plan. The website and app are a bit different from Gmail.
Start at: proton.me/mail
Good for: privacy, “I don’t want my mail mixed with ads.”
Less good if: you want the same look as Gmail and you already have someone who only knows Google.
Your own name (a step up)
Some people use an address like jane@yourname.com.au. That needs a domain name and a mail host. It is more to set up than Gmail. If that is you, ask someone who does this for a living rather than following a YouTube video at midnight.
You do not need this for everyday home use. Gmail or Outlook is enough for most families.
A name of your own can still be worthwhile later. You control the address — if you change mail companies, you can keep jane@yourname.com.au. It looks more professional. It is not tied to Telstra, Google, or Microsoft. You can choose a host that takes privacy seriously. Banks and customers often take a named address more seriously than a free one. The extra setup is the cost of that control.
How to change without losing your old mail
Keep it simple.
- Open a new account (Gmail, Outlook, or Proton) and write down the new address and password on paper. Keep that paper safe.
- Keep the BigPond address working for a good while. Do not delete it on day one.
- Tell people slowly. Banks, Medicare, insurance, friends, clubs. One letter or phone call at a time. Update the address on websites when you next log in.
- Forward mail if you can. Some people set BigPond to send a copy to the new address. If you are not sure how, ask Telstra or a helper. If forwarding is too hard, just check both inboxes for a few months.
- Save important old emails. Print the ones that matter, or ask me — or someone you trust — to help copy them. Do not assume old mail will sit there forever if you stop logging in.
Your @bigpond.com address will not automatically become a Gmail address. Nobody can “convert” the name. You get a new address, then you tell the world.
What I tell people on the job
- The official line today is: BigPond email is not shutting down.
- Do not click panic emails. Check telstra.com.au yourself.
- Log in now and then so the account does not go to sleep (180 days).
- If you leave Telstra, ask them to keep the email — then keep using it.
- If you want a new address, Gmail or Outlook is fine for most people. Proton if privacy matters more. Take it slow. Keep the old one until the new one is on everything important.
I cannot promise Telstra will never change their mind in five years. No company can. What I can say is: right now, Telstra’s own website says existing BigPond accounts stay supported. That is the fact to hold onto when the rumour starts again at a barbecue.
If you are stuck, I can look at it on-site — or use the contact form. I’m happy to talk it through in plain English.
Checked against Telstra’s public help pages. Rules can change. If you need a yes or no for your own account, sign in to My Telstra or ask Telstra directly.