New rules for Australian telcos

New rules are being imposed on Australian telecommunications companies following the wide-impact Optus outage in November 2023.

These regulations mandate clearer communication with customers during and after blackouts, as well as compulsory post-incident reports to the government. Companies will also need to submit mitigation plans to the regulatory authority after major outages. Changes to emergency call management are part of these new rules after the outage caused 2697 failed Triple Zero calls.

Further concerns stem from potential Triple Zero call failures due to 3G network shutdowns. Over the next 12-18 months, the government plans to establish the Triple Zero Custodian framework, led initially by the Telecommunications Industry Ombudsman (TIO), to enhance oversight and accountability.

A comprehensive testing system for Triple Zero calls across all networks and devices is also in the works. The government aims to create a more resilient telecommunications system with improved communication standards and a fairer consumer compensation system during disruptions.

- CyberBeat