Telstra is introducing one minute billing increments to mobile phone customers from March.

The network currently charges in 30 second blocks, but calls will now be rounded up to the nearest minute instead.

Calls on pre-paid NextG plans will now cost 80 cents a call, whether the call is one second or 59.

Telstra spokesperson Karina Keisler told News Limited: "The change is to provide alignment across our home phone and mobile charging on cap plans, to standardise pricing and make it easier to compare call costs.
 
"All competitors charge in 60-second blocks for mobile cap plans."

Rivals Optus and Vodafone already charge on a one-minute basis.

The telco said most customers would not notice the changes, but admitted that some may face higher costs for their phone use.