All Telstra services, including local phones, internet and mobiles, in southern NSW and the ACT are down after two communications backbones were accidently severed.

According to the Sydney Morning Herald, Telstra is still trying to determine the cause of the problem but said it appears to be the result of two cables being cut – one between Wagga Wagga and Griffith and another between Bombala and Gundagai.

Telstra has also warned that Triple 0 services are affected, and people in the area should contact the local police, fire or ambulance directly if possible.

Telstra provides wholesale landline services to most other carriers in the region, so non-Telstra residential customers are likely to be affected as well.