Optus Outage - How is it affecting you?

[marki]

KaDeWe in Germany had a cyber attack from Rusland 3-2 Nov

 

[Lynda2475]

The regulator will not crack down on landlines, since the it was governments own NBN design that is the reason we dont have the old copper landlines that used to work during a power outage anymore.

The mobile network (GSM or satellite) is the back-up for the VOIP (landline replacement) that requires internet connectivity. The nbn network is powered separately to general electricity grid, but if your premises does not have power for the router or the power outage is affecting the nbn equipment in the pit then you will have no access to VOIP.

This is why Telstra, Optus and some other ISP offer you a sim back-up (albeit it a much slower speed) if there is an nbn outage. And why some people have a UPS/generator.

The same is happening in the UK and parts of Europe, Im sure Canada wont be too far behind.

That is not to say that government wont seek compensation/discount from Optus for the interruption to its services; lots of government departments are with Optus not Telstra but they wont insist we go back to the days of copper landlines, as the infrastructure has been repurposed for the nbn in most areas.

 

[knagelli]

Phone seems to be on 3g now. Used to be 5g.

Looks like it is back and the sos on my phone has gone now however it is 3G with no bars showing no signal. Hope it is back soon.

 

[latawiec]

I have mobile data via Optus now!

It came back just a few minutes ago. This is inner Melbourne.

Lucky for me I have Telstra also. I only use Optus for mobile data.

In Perth also Optus has been restored but only 3G speed on my Motorola smartphone.

But my wife doesn't have connection on Samsung A73, only emergency.

 

[Lynda2475]

5G requires 4G to be operational as it piggy backs; I suspect if something wrong with the 4/5G core they are bringing up the older 3G (which funnily enough is being phased out) to get telephony (calls and sms working) and will likely hold back data services until 4G/5G comes back online.

ETA - I have an LTE signal now (4G) but no 5G yet.

 

[Must...Fly!]

VA contact centres are tied up in this, annoying as I can't call to organise a fly ahead for this afternoon. But at least I'm with Telstra..

Back online and sorted in 5 minutes 30 seconds, zero wait time. Would've been 3 minutes if it weren't for all the pre-recorded stuff they make you sit through...

Post automatically merged: Nov 8, 2023

KaDeWe in Germany had a cyber attack from Rusland 3-2 Nov

They've been going at some Australian assets recently as well

 

[oz_mark]

I didn't realize this impacted landlines as well! I hope the telecommunications regulator comes down hard on Optus. Landlines should never ever ever ever be affected by service interruptions.

This is not true. Landline phones are largely delivered through the same infrastructure that the NBN uses.

 

[latawiec]

In Perth also Optus has been restored but only 3G speed on my Motorola smartphone.

But my wife doesn't have connection on Samsung A73, only emergency.

...again after 5min Optus network again is not available in Perth.

 

[Lynda2475]

Yeah I just received a bunch of sms's and a call from the parentals testing the mobile has come back online.

 

[marki]

Looks like it is back and the sos on my phone has gone now however it is 3G with no bars showing no signal. Hope it is back soon.

2G? ie phone calls only, maybe? I have bars only, but the making a call says the person I am calling is unavailable on the Optus network.

 

[latawiec]

This is not true. Landline phones are largely delivered through the same infrastructure that the NBN uses.

Yes, correct.
My landline phone is via TPG and NBN fiberoptic. My landline works because is delivered through the NBN infrastructure.

So I have internet and landline phone working thanks to NBN and TPG.

 

[Lynda2475]

This is not true. Landline phones are largely delivered through the same infrastructure that the NBN uses.

True NBN itself is not affected.

However anyone who buys their nbn through Optus (or an Optus reseller like amaysim) and have a landline (VOIP) is affected because the problem has been with Optus's core network which sits between the optus customer and the nbn.

FYI less than 30% of nbn retail (not business) customers still have a landline/VOIP number; most are internet only as also have a mobile.

 

[knagelli]

It's gone again alas a brief stint saying I am still there ... it's back to SOS now

 

[Must...Fly!]

2G? ie phone calls only, maybe? I have bars only, but the making a call says the person I am calling is unavailable on the Optus network.

2G no longer exists

 

[Lynda2475]

2G? ie phone calls only, maybe? I have bars only, but the making a call says the person I am calling is unavailable on the Optus network.

2G has been decommissioned. Optus only has some 3G, mostly 4G and ever growing 5G (but 5G needs to use 4G as a carrier).

FYI the 2G/3G/4G/5G relates to the transmission algorithm / wave compression not to voice vs data. Mobile data has been available since 2G.

Post automatically merged: Nov 8, 2023

4G still up here in Sydney and data now working

 

[marki]

2G no longer exists

Yep understood but in this limping Optus scenario 2G would be voice and SMS, no mobile Dsta.

 

[Human]

I've got 3 bars of reception including mobile internet (Melbourne SE suburbs).

 

[Lynda2475]

Yep understood but in this limping Optus scenario 2G would be voice and SMS, no mobile Dsta.

Nope because 2G had data (albeit very slow); only the original GSM (1G if you will) didnt.

 

[RooFlyer]

Landlines should never ever ever ever be affected by service interruptions. Now maybe in Australia everything is willy nilly when it comes to landlines, but back in Canada they would operate 24/7 all the time every time.

Bit of history for you. Landlines in Oz aren't landlines any more. When NBN came in, Telstra sold to govt/dismantled its 'copper' network monopoly. So if you have a 'landline' in your house, its going to use VOIP. No internet, no landline calls. There was massive backlash at the time, but that's 'progress'.

 

[RooFlyer]

Just got an e-mail from Telstra: "Helping to keep you connected through disasters."