Optus outage disrupts emergency calls ahead of Singtel visit
SYDNEY — An Optus network outage on September 28 disrupted emergency calls in parts of the country, just as a delegation from its parent company, Singtel, arrived in Australia to discuss the fallout from earlier disruptions with Communications Minister Anika Wells. The timing underscored the ongoing pressure on the telco as regulators and government officials scrutinize service reliability after a series of outages that have rattled consumers and businesses alike.
What happened on Sept. 28
Optus acknowledged a fault in its network core that affected multiple services, including voice calls and data in certain regions. Technical teams worked to reroute traffic and restore full service as quickly as possible, with some customers reporting restoration within hours, while others experienced intermittent issues into the evening. The incident continued to highlight a broader pattern of outages that have plagued the operator over the past year, prompting renewed calls for improved resilience and transparency from the company and its parent group.
Impact on emergency services
Emergency-call capabilities were among the areas affected during the outage window. While Optus said it was actively addressing the fault, some users encountered delays or failures when dialing emergency numbers. The disruption raised concerns about public safety and underscored the importance of robust redundancy and alternate routes for critical communications during outages. Industry observers noted that the incident comes at a sensitive time as governments press for stronger telecom resilience to protect essential services and general public safety networks.
Singtel visit and government response
The Sept. 28 outage occurred as a senior delegation from Singtel arrived to discuss the ongoing disruptions with Australian authorities, including Communications Minister Anika Wells. The meetings are part of a broader effort to understand what went wrong, what is being done to prevent future faults, and how to restore consumer and business confidence in a network that underpins everything from daily communications to emergency services. Officials signaled that regulators would continue to monitor the situation and work closely with Optus and Singtel to implement fixes and improvements.
What comes next for Optus and its customers
Analysts say the latest outage underscores the critical need for long-term resilience investments, including redundancy across networks, faster incident response, and clearer communication with customers during outages. Optus has faced sustained scrutiny over past outages, and the current incident is likely to shape conversations around accountability, remediation timelines, and customer compensation policies. In response, the company has promised root-cause analysis and a detailed review of its network architecture to prevent recurrence.
Broader context and industry implications
Australia’s telecom sector has faced multiple outages over the past year, prompting regulators and lawmakers to consider tighter oversight and more rigid response protocols. The role of parent companies, cross-border governance, and the balance between commercial interests and public safety remain central themes in the ongoing dialogue between operators, government, and consumers.
Bottom line
As Optus works to restore full reliability, the presence of Singtel’s delegation in Australia and ongoing discussions with government officials signal a push for accountability and tangible improvements in service continuity. For customers, the key takeaway is a continuing emphasis on resilience and clear, proactive communication when outages occur, so that critical services remain available when they’re needed most.
