**Optus Outage Disrupts Emergency Services in Victoria**
**Meta Description:** A significant Optus outage in Victoria left thousands unable to make calls, raising concerns over emergency service access.
**URL Slug:** optus-outage-victoria-emergency-services
**Headline:** Major Optus Outage in Victoria Raises Alarms Over Emergency Service Access
In a troubling incident, Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan has requested an urgent briefing following an Optus outage that affected over 14,000 customers in the state’s south-east. The outage, which left many unable to make calls or access mobile data, also disrupted access to emergency services. Allan expressed her deep concern over the situation, noting that the cause of the outage is still under investigation.
The disruption was linked to an act of vandalism, where thieves cut through a fibre cable at a Telstra pit on the Mornington Peninsula while attempting to steal copper. Optus confirmed that services were fully restored by 11:20 AM on Wednesday. “This is an act of vandalism. These are criminals that are cutting the fibre that provides vital connectivity to customers,” stated Optus spokeswoman Jane McNamara.
The outage impacted six mobile sites across the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston, with some customers in Berwick also experiencing issues. Despite the disruption, Optus reported that there were no failed emergency calls during the outage, as calls were automatically rerouted to other carriers’ networks.
This incident comes amid an ongoing Senate inquiry into a previous Triple Zero outage in September, which was linked to the deaths of two individuals who were unable to contact emergency services. Greens senator Sarah Hanson-Young, who chairs the inquiry, has called for an urgent review of Optus’ license, stating, “Optus has failed the Australian people again. They are clearly not capable of providing this essential service and keeping Australians safe.”
Shadow communications spokeswoman Melissa McIntosh echoed these concerns, emphasizing that it is unacceptable for Triple Zero calls to be impacted by yet another Optus outage. “Regardless of the fault, Optus has an obligation to provide Triple Zero services to Australians anywhere and at any time,” she asserted.
As the investigation continues, the community remains on high alert regarding the reliability of telecommunications services, particularly in emergency situations.
**FAQ Section**
**Q: What caused the recent Optus outage in Victoria?**
A: The outage was caused by thieves cutting through a fibre cable at a Telstra pit while attempting to steal copper, disrupting services for thousands of customers.
