Optus is currently investigating a mobile service outage that has affected over 100,000 customers across its network. An official spokesperson for the telecommunications provider confirmed to iTnews that the company is aware of the ongoing issue impacting “some” users. The spokesperson reiterated guidance provided on Optus’ social media channels, recommending that customers experiencing service disruptions, indicated by messages such as ‘No Service’ or ‘SOS’ on their devices, should restart their phones to restore connectivity.
Initial reports suggested that as many as 220,000 customers faced disruptions. However, more recent estimates indicate that the number of affected subscribers may be closer to 115,000, with the situation gradually improving. The outage does not appear to be localized to a specific geographic area or limited to any particular model or brand of mobile device. Preliminary assessments suggest the issue is likely related to network equipment, echoing user experiences reported on social media platforms that noted similar problems over the previous weekend. This could imply that ongoing software changes are contributing to the service interruptions.
Collaboration with Ericsson
In response to the situation, Optus is collaborating with its network partner, Ericsson, to expedite the resolution process. The spokesperson stated that they have observed a significant decline in the number of customers affected as efforts to address the matter continue.
This outage comes at a critical time for Optus, as a parliamentary inquiry into the Triple Zero emergency service is ongoing. This inquiry was partly prompted by a major network outage last September, which has been linked to two fatalities. Optus has assured its customers that this latest issue does not hinder their ability to make emergency calls, providing some reassurance amid the disruptions.
The inquiry committee, initially expected to deliver its findings this week, has delayed the report until March 30, 2024, at the request of its chair, Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Further hearings are anticipated before the final report is issued.
As Optus continues to investigate the root cause of the outage, customers remain hopeful for a swift resolution to restore full mobile services. The company is committed to keeping its users informed as new developments arise.
