Full Breakdown
Optus Outage Disrupts Voice and Emergency Calls Across Three States
By Drooid · · How we work
Outage Details and Immediate Impact
On September 11 a technical failure at Optus, Australia’s second-largest carrier, caused voice-calling services to drop intermittently in parts of Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania and the Northern Territory. The disruption lasted about 76 minutes. During the outage Optus supplied authorities with details of 39 calls that struggled to connect to the national Triple Zero emergency line; police and welfare officers performed roughly 40 welfare checks. Optus said the issue was identified within minutes and technical teams were mobilised to restore service.
Background & Context
The incident follows a series of high-profile network failures. In 2025 a September outage at Optus lasted almost 14 hours, blocked emergency calls and was linked to two deaths, prompting ACMA action. A 2023 nationwide outage led to a A$12 million fine for failing to provide emergency call services. Optus also suffered a 2022 cyber-attack that exposed data of about 9.5 million Australians.
Data & Statistics
- Outage duration: ? 76 minutes.
- Affected regions: Victoria, South Australia, Tasmania, Northern Territory.
- Emergency-call impact: 39–41 calls reported.
- Customers experiencing two failed call attempts: 190,000.
- Prior incidents: 2025 outage – 14 hours, 2 deaths; 2023 outage – A$12 million fine.
Official Statements & Responses
Communications Minister Anika Wells said no infrastructure is “100 % resilient” and pledged to improve network robustness. An Optus spokesperson highlighted rapid detection through network monitoring and the activation of escalation processes. Victorian Health Minister Ingrid Stitt called the outage “incredibly disappointing and unacceptable.” Senior federal minister Chris Bowen described the event as “deeply concerning” and emphasized telcos’ legal obligation to keep emergency-call systems operational.
Criticism & Opposition
Consumer-advocacy leader Carol Bennett warned that “we’re seeing continuous outages, major outages affecting people’s lives and safety and this should not continue.” Bennett called for legislation that treats telecommunications like essential services such as energy and water.
Conflicting Reports & Gaps
Sources differ on the exact number of failed emergency calls (39, 40, 41) and on the outage’s length (76 minutes vs one hour 16 minutes). While Optus reported 190,000 customers with two unsuccessful call attempts, the proportion involving emergency numbers is not clarified.
Verbatim Quotes
- “What we need to do is make sure these systems are as resilient as we can possibly make them,” — Anika Wells
- “We sincerely apologise to customers for the disruption,” — Optus spokesperson
- “We’re seeing continuous outages, major outages affecting people’s lives and safety and this should not continue,” — Carol Bennett
What’s Next
The ACMA has scheduled civil-penalty proceedings for September 18 against Optus over the 2025 outage, seeking penalties exceeding $500 million. The outcome may shape future regulatory requirements for emergency-call reliability.