Share this @internewscast.com

Optus says it is working with communications technology company Ericsson to determine the cause of an outage of a tower in Dapto, NSW, on the weekend that led to emergency services calls in the area failing to go through.
It comes as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said the company had “failed customers” and needs to work to restore customers’ trust.

Optus has issued an apology to users who were impacted. According to a spokesperson, Optus has verified with the police that the individuals involved are “OK” and that the problem has been resolved.

On Tuesday, Optus said Ericsson’s equipment “did not appear to operate as it should” and that it was working with the provider to investigate.
Optus said initial assessments of Sunday’s outage indicated 4G services in a tower at Dapto were not operational.
The tower appeared active on the network, but calls attaching to it were impacted and did not transfer to other networks, the company said.
“Optus’ ability to detect the outage was impacted as the Ericsson equipment in the cell tower did not alarm that 4G services were not operational,” it said.

“We are assured by Ericsson that they have their global product development unit urgently analysing this.”

Second triple-zero outage in less than a fortnight

Sunday night’s outage is the second such incident in less than a fortnight for the telco, after it suffered an outage on 18 September that impacted parts of South Australia, Western Australia, the NT and NSW.
Around 600 calls were disrupted, and the outage has been linked to the deaths of at least three people. That incident is the subject of an Optus probe and federal communications watchdog investigation.
Optus has claimed human error caused the first outage after no one diverted calls to a separate part of the core network, as required.

“Standard processes were not followed,” Optus chief executive Stephen Rue said at the time.

Singtel chief executive Yuen Kuan Moon and federal Communications Minister Anika Wells met in Sydney on Tuesday, along with Rue and chair John Arthur.
They discussed technical details about the outages and ways to restore trust in Australia’s second-largest telco and the triple-zero system.
Speaking to reporters, Yuen said of the first outage: “It’s a people issue and it takes time to change and transform the people.”

Arthur similarly told reporters: “The incident on the 18th was a process-related incident. People made mistakes.”

‘Systemic failures’

On Wednesday, the Communication Workers Union (CWU) said Optus laying the blame for the outages on frontline workers was “disgraceful” and an attempt to absolve the company’s “systemic failures”.
“How Optus’ most senior bosses can stand up and openly blame frontline staff for what is clearly a systemic failure is beyond comprehension,” CWU national secretary Shane Murphy said in a statement.
“The company has a responsibility to the Australian people to ensure that there are water-tight systems in place to ensure that when they need to call triple-zero, they can.”
Murphy said the telco attributing blame to frontline workers was a “disgraceful attack” on people “attempting to do their jobs under incredibly difficult circumstances”, citing offshoring and outsourcing.

“If the system can’t carry a triple-zero call, that’s a boardroom failure, not a ‘people failure.'”

Speaking to reporters in Sydney on Wednesday, Albanese said it was “in Optus’ interests to restore confidence” after it “failed customers”.
“They need to be transparent … This should never have occurred,” Albanese said.
Wells said on Tuesday that Singtel was accountable for Optus’ failures in making sure calls to emergency services went through.
The communications minister said she had asked Optus to “find a way to have an external account in their systems so that Australians can have confidence … rather than just hearing from Optus again that it will be fine”.
Arthur said Optus would appoint an independent, external party to ensure accountability.
With additional reporting by the Australian Associated Press.

Share this @internewscast.com
You May Also Like
Chief Stew Aesha Scott spoke exclusively with the DailyMail about the rules for alcohol consumption on the superyacht

Why Below Deck’s Aesha Scott Says Ignoring the ‘Golden Rule’ Keeps Intoxicated Guests in Check

“Below Deck” has built a reputation for delivering high-stakes drama aboard its…
Chilling warning over 3D-printed guns flooding Australia amid crackdown

Rising Threat: Surge of 3D-Printed Firearms in Australia Sparks Urgent Crackdown

Authorities have issued a stern warning about the “real threat” posed by…
Pictured: Kim with her children Elijah and Willow on a beach in New Zealand after the family moved there in June

From Costly Staycation to Kiwi Relocation: How a Pricey Center Parcs Trip Led to a £30,000 Move to New Zealand

A British couple has shared the cultural contrasts they’ve encountered since relocating…
Grainne Kealy was left without a forehead for two years (pictured) after a freak car crash in 2006

Woman’s Remarkable Transformation 19 Years After Losing Her Forehead in Unusual Car Accident

A woman who endured the loss of her entire forehead in a…
Mother left red-faced after ordering a personalised T-shirt online... only for it to come with a very awkward mistake

Online Shopping Mishap: Mom’s Personalized T-Shirt Order Goes Hilariously Wrong

A New Zealand mother was left embarrassed after a personalized T-shirt order…
Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskyy

Ukraine and EU Firmly Oppose Land Concessions in Peace Negotiations

Ukraine‘s president and European leaders on Tuesday accused Russian President Vladimir Putin…
Smoking

Smoking Rates Surge in This State for the First Time in Three Decades

Fresh data is ramping up the call for Premier Roger Cook’s administration…
NZ woman Michelle revealed on-air how finding another woman's necklace on her bedroom night stand led to the discovery that her fiancé had cheated while she was away (Picture: Stock Image)

Heartbreak Before ‘I Do’: My Shocking Discovery Two Weeks Before the Wedding

A woman from New Zealand has shared the unexpected clue that led…
Shock sight as whole wing of the White House left in pieces

Unexpected Incident Leaves White House Wing in Disarray

The historic White House is undergoing a significant transformation as demolition of…

Ley Urges Decisive Action on Rudd, Criticizes Prime Minister’s Handling of Trump Tariff Issue

Opposition leader Sussan Ley says Kevin Rudd’s position as ambassador to the…
Scott Pendlebury of the Magpies.

AFL Star Scott Pendlebury Pursues Legal Action Over Missing $2.1 Million Funds

AFL luminary Scott Pendlebury has initiated legal proceedings against his former manager,…
Logan hospital

Authorities Probe Mysterious Rat Poison Incident After Multiple Hospitalizations

Authorities in Queensland’s southeast are collaborating with health officials to identify the…