Optus still in the dark on outage

By Suzanne Tindal, ZDNet.com.au

04 August 2008 05:15 PM

Tags: optus, outage, mobile, data, voice, network, spokesperson, cause

Optus has still not pinpointed the cause of the mobile network outage which occurred on Friday, affecting 3G data services as well as voice.

Data services were affected in NSW, Queensland, Victoria and the ACT, according to a company spokesperson, as well as voice calls in parts of Sydney, Brisbane and Melbourne.

Voice services were up and running on Friday night, according to the spokesperson, with data taking until Saturday morning to get back online. Some customers have claimed their services were still patchy, but the spokesperson said that from a network perspective everything was fine.

The carrier hasn't been able to lay its finger on the root cause, according to the spokesperson, although they said it was a software issue with the carrier's mobile platform.

It would take some time to track down the exact cause of the problem, the spokesperson said, since the company needed to undertake an investigation together with its network vendors, which include Huawei and Nokia Siemens Networks.

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Easy to explain Anonymous -- 04/08/08

Poor network design, just look at their infrastructure in Qld. One cable cut and they were down, they may use the excuse of their redundant link was also down for whatever reason but such a critical link would have more then one redundant link.

OPTUS FAILURES

optus failures Anonymous -- 06/08/08 (in reply to #320108476)

Its clear that the person who posted this has no idea what sort of investment is required in providing a third fibre IOF. As such he or she should do some reading.

Agreed Anonymous -- 07/08/08 (in reply to #320109303)

I am not familiar with many telco companies which which would have more than one redundant link. The capital required and ongoing costs to maintain two redundant links would be a waste of resources be better spent elsewhere.

Do some research Anonymous -- 07/08/08 (in reply to #320109375)

The only people who would end up paying for 2 or 3 redundant links would be consumers through higher prices. I can assure you that no carrier (Telstra included) have what you have just suggested.

Did my research Anonymous -- 08/08/08 (in reply to #320109378)

And I know the answer, do you?

Would like to see so called research. Anonymous -- 10/08/08 (in reply to #320109393)

Judging by your comments you have no idea what is already in place.
Also if your "research" concludes that it is a cheap undertaking to provide 3 links from Adelaide to Perth in a geographically diverse mesh then get some new research.

Not Exactly Accurate Anonymous -- 04/08/08

Apart from a brief period of uptime on Sunday night, my service in the Sydney CBD was still down on Monday morning. A call to Optus service faults confirmed ongoing issues with voice and data in some areas.

NO OPTUS. Sydney Lawrence -- 05/08/08

Radio-station 4BC in Brisbane was in meltdown yesterday afternoon from callers furious that Optus was unserviceable again yesterday.

"Root Cause" Anonymous -- 05/08/08

"We are still not clear on the root cause of the problem but we are investigating,"

As a "root cause" you would have to say incompetence after a series of outages. This has impacted on my business & I will move to the opposition. Communications is too critical for the running of my business!!!

Optus Outages Anonymous -- 05/08/08 (in reply to #320108518)

Can they be "entrusted" with the NBN?

this is tttt affordable Anonymous -- 05/08/08 (in reply to #320108521)

this is the affordable comms bright sparks like james bell, keith styles, lord watchdog and the rest of the tttt are fighting for, so welcome to your grand vision for affordable aus comms gentlemen and enjoy, haha.

Rubbish Anonymous -- 05/08/08 (in reply to #320108536)

2 outages in how many years? Telstra have had significant outages too. I recall everyone in my area being without the net for an entire weekend with good old BigPong a couple of years back, and it wasn't that long ago a cut Telstra cable caused significant distruptions in Sydney.

With the amount I'm saving now (thousands) I'm happy to put up with a once in blue moon outage

@rubbish Anonymous -- 05/08/08 (in reply to #320108538)

question should be how many outages in how many days or weeks not years hehe.
saving thousands wow, doesn't sound like your an average user then does it. if you are an average user then your plainly a liar, thousands haha.

BigPond Outage? Rubbush collector -- 05/08/08 (in reply to #320108542)

That is a residential grade service, Telstra's Internet Direct (business) backbone has never had an outage at the scale you are talking about. Optus had a statewide outage for voice, data and mobiles 3 weeks ago and 3 states on their mobiles last week.

If one person died because their mobile couldn't work would there have been the same outrage?

OPTUS Outages!! Anonymous -- 07/08/08 (in reply to #320108521)

Probably not!

OPTUS OUTAGES Anonymous -- 10/08/08 (in reply to #320108521)

Typically OPTUS are bleming everyone else but themselves for these mishaps.

Instaed of Blaming Telstra this time they are trying to blame NOKIA for their problems!!!

one word - HUAWEI Mr. Huawei -- 05/08/08

If you use crap products, you get crap service. Thanks huawei

Nokia Actually Anonymous -- 05/08/08 (in reply to #320108540)

I read elsewhere that the fault is with Nokia hardware actually

@nokia Anonymous -- 05/08/08 (in reply to #320108541)

yes lets blame nokia this time cause we cant get away with blaming telstra can we.hehe

re OPTUS Outage Anonymous -- 05/08/08 (in reply to #320108540)

Who the hell are HUAWEI??

Huawei Anonymous -- 05/08/08 (in reply to #320108560)

exactly
who- are- we.

Very, very cheap

Huawei Anonymous -- 10/08/08 (in reply to #320108628)

Huawei manufacture some of the BTS equipment and DSLAM's that Optus has deployed.

James Bell, Lord Watchdog, Keith Styles where are you Anonymous -- 07/08/08

James here is your chance to stand up and argue for a reliable and cost effective network. Oh that's right you don't want to lose your job by attacking your employer.

Keith Styles, nothing to say about your beloved Craptus.

Lord watchdog? We all know you will never pop your head out unless there is something you can bag Telstra about.

Strange how all 3 of you are on holidays at the same time ... Enjoy your rest (or threesome)!!!

Trolling perhaps? Anonymous -- 07/08/08 (in reply to #320109374)

Perhaps if you said something intelligent instead of trolling you'd get a response.

Live and learn. Sydney Lawrence -- 08/08/08 (in reply to #320109379)

The Anti-Telstra Circus can hand it out but they sure can't take it. LOL.

The BIG laugh would be if Optus was granted the build of the Australia's new NBN.

Then again a national disaster of gigantic proportions might be more descriptive.

Comebacks are a lame duck Anonymous -- 08/08/08 (in reply to #320109402)

Must be an Optus engineer, can't do anything properly

Agreed , Can name a Telco for you Anonymous -- 08/08/08

Agreed, you can't think of one Telco that has that kind of redundancy..
we have one its called Telstra.
They even survived having two optic fibre connections cut, and still managed to keep most of the country connected.

Wow Anonymous -- 16/08/08

lol, sure glad telstra had the monolithic market posistion to put in those 3 links then >.<, perhaps they could get rid of 1 and charge something decent for internet?

OPTUS Outage!!! Anonymous -- 16/08/08 (in reply to #320109904)

Yeh good onya...and borrow you mates phone because he was the smart one to go with Telstra (& not skimp & go with BOPTUS) to join bigpond ( because atleast it will be working)

Keep this in mind when you are next inconvenienced with an inferior Craptus product!!

@OPTUS Outage!!! Anonymous -- 16/08/08 (in reply to #320109913)

Just because you enjoy bending over and taking up the a** from Tel$tra doesn't mean we do.

The only thing Tel$stra leads the market in is ripping off customers.

Who takes it up the a**? Craptus just Droptus to save a Bucktus -- 17/08/08 (in reply to #320109918)

You have a choice, you want to go with a cheaper company and get a cheaper service then you can. I have a choice and I won't.

At the end of the day the story here is not about cost, it is all about network design. A major company that has millions of individuals and businesses relying on their services can not be seen to be an unreliable and untrustworthy supplier. Right now this is the image that Optus has.

Telstra may have higher prices but just remember that every time Telstra tries to lead the market in price they get attacked by the ACCC almost immediately.

Even when Telstra is only a small amount more then the competition all the little companies drop their prices further as this is all they can compete on. These smaller companies can not offer the quality, features and capabilities as Telstra so all they can do is use the we are cheap / they are expensive marketing and as usual there are many people who fall for it (like you).

outage? Anonymous -- 20/08/08 (in reply to #320109942)

so i pay less to go with 'craptus', so i deal with maybe 1 outage for ~2 days every couple of years, thats okay, cause the +$20 i save a month is more than compensation me thinks

A Life = $20 per month RIP Reader -- 20/08/08 (in reply to #320110135)

That's ok as long as during those 2 days someone doesn't need to call 000 and all their services are with them.

beauty of technology Anonymous -- 20/08/08 (in reply to #320110141)

boy am i glad that mobiles will automatically change to any available network to make a 000 call, regardless of provider, phew, almost had a problem there,

RIDING ON THE BACK OF AUSTRALIA Anonymous -- 20/08/08 (in reply to #320110154)

well lucky for you that some of us out here are willing to pay that little extra so an aussie company like telstra can stick in their towers and cover for KaBoptus when they drop the ball because there foreign masters in singapore dont give a damn

Cheers Mate for covering Anonymous -- 20/08/08 (in reply to #320110158)

I'm sure glad that extra 20 a month goes towards a backup fibre link then, but wait, I'm confused, $20 per user per month, even if only a 1000 people in queensland are with telstra thats 20,000 extra a month for a redunadant fibre link, crikey that thing must be huge, either that or with the price of petrol sol needs a little extra cash on the side for his ferrari :P

Telstra FanBoi in da house Anonymous -- 20/08/08 (in reply to #320110160)

well with all the excellent australian based service that telstra provides it doesnt surprise me it costs that little extra, i mean sure we could ship our jobs to india and save a couple of bucks but people want australian tech supprt

"Line Faults Please" Anonymous -- 20/08/08 (in reply to #320110162)

'Oh hi there, just ringing to log a fault, because my giant oversized fibre link isnt working and my phones out...' somehow i dont think your standard aussie call centre would field that kind of call, so why the inflated support costs? new tyres for sol's ferrari maybe?

jealousy perhaps? Anonymous -- 20/08/08 (in reply to #320110165)

I think your just jealous that you dont have a big shiny red ferrari like sol, cause dont we all wish we could have that king of a car? perhaps if your business was with telstra it might have enough uptime to make some money?

Low Blow Anonymous -- 20/08/08 (in reply to #320110166)

My business happens to make plenty of money and keeps me quite wealthy as well as all my investments with their delicously fully franked tax accountable quarterly divends, which i wisely re-invest in companies other than "Smelstra" as for your quip that im jealous about sol's ferrari, can you blame, can you really blame me? I'm only humanoid

:'( Anonymous -- 20/08/08 (in reply to #320110169)

My mum ran away from my abusive father when i was 2, I've never met her and that really hurts that you would use that against me...

Wheres Wally Anonymous -- 20/08/08 (in reply to #320110171)

Your mother ran away cause your phone was with optus

@jealousy perhaps? Anonymous -- 21/08/08 (in reply to #320110166)

No instead he'd be driving a datson because of his Telstra bills

"$20 per month saved" Paul Hunneybell -- 01/09/08 (in reply to #320110135)

Its a good job your dont run a business service eh. I have dealt with several customers, ie, towing companies, courier companies etc, who get most of their jobs via the telephone. ONE missed call can be worth over a thousand dollars for the larger ones. So lets see, if you average about 10 - 20 jobs a day, even if you were only making a hundred off each job, you've lost between $1000 and $2000 dollars. That $20 extra a month sounds like a pretty good expenditure right now eh!