The heads of the nation’s three largest mobile phone companies – Optus, Telstra and TPG – have been ordered to Canberra to face Communications Minister Anika Wells and explain how they will avoid a Triple Zero outage during the coming bushfire season.
Optus chief Stephen Rue, who faced Wells in a meeting last week, Telstra boss Vicki Brady and TPG head Inaki Berroeta will not only be questioned about preparations for summer but whether they will meet new rules starting from November 1 that govern outages.
Communications Minister Anika Wells will meet heads of Telstra, Optus and TPG tomorrow about Triple Zero system concerns.Credit: Sitthixay Ditthavong
The Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is holding an inquiry into the events of September 18, when Triple Zero callers using Optus in Western Australia, South Australia and the Northern Territory were unable to connect with emergency services. Three people died during the incident.
A second, shorter outage occurred in NSW several days later.
Wells will tell all three telecommunications company chief executives that, with the bushfire season approaching, the public has to have confidence in the reliability of the Triple Zero service.
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