Name: Govt. mandates telcos to share real-time outage updated
Uploaded: 2025-10-28T06:43:39.043Z
Duration: 1 min 49 s
Description: The Federal Government has directed telecommunications companies to provide real-time public updates on network outages following recent failures affecting triple zero emergency calls. New rules and increased penalties aim to improve transparency and accountability.

The Federal Government has directed telecommunications companies to provide real-time public updates on network outages following recent failures affecting triple zero emergency calls. New rules and increased penalties aim to improve transparency and accountability.

Canberra

The Australian government has introduced new requirements for telecommunications companies to publicly report network outages in real time, following a significant Optus triple zero failure and subsequent outages. The communications minister has formally directed the industry watchdog to mandate a public register of outages, aiming to enhance transparency and consumer safety.

The government is also advancing legislation to establish a triple zero custodian to oversee the telco network and has increased penalties for companies that fail to maintain emergency call services. A senate inquiry into the Optus outage has been approved, with the government and opposition debating the best approach to prevent future disruptions.

Govt. mandates telcos to share real-time outage updated

When seconds count, information matters, but critical messages about network outages don't always deliver. It's not in one place, it's not clear and it's not always as accurate as it could be. And it's had deadly consequences. But six weeks since that Optus triple zero failure and subsequent outages, the communications minister has finally done what consumer advocates have long been calling for. In a letter to the watchdog, Annika Wells formally directed it to make new rules to strengthen the regulatory framework by mandating telcos provide a public register of their network outages. That is real-time updates about where outages are occurring and what's being done to fix them. It's another layer, another safety net for consumers. It's about transparency and accountability. The federal opposition argues it's anything but. Each telco, three of them, will have the responsibility to publish outages on their websites. What does that even mean? Why can't the government agree to a public register? The question remains how to stop outages from happening in the first place. The government is rushing through legislation to create a triple zero custodian, that is to oversee the telco network, and has agreed to increase penalties to 30 million dollars for companies that fail to keep the lifeline connected. We would like everything investigated. And it will be. A vote to hold a senate inquiry, a chance to grill all connected to the Optus outage, was passed late this afternoon. And with disaster season already upon us, if there is more to learn, time is of the essence. Tallulah Thompson, 10 News.

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