Telecom Outage Triggers Deadly Delays: Australia's 13-Hour Crisis

Breaking News: Optus Telecom Outage Linked to Multiple Deaths A devastating telecom outage has left Australia reeling after at least three people died due to delayed emergency services responses. The 13-hour systems failure, which occurred last Thursday, affected over half of the country, with hundreds of calls to triple-0 failing. Timeline of Events: Last Thursday, a massive telecom outage hit Optus' network, crippling emergency services in South Australia, Western Australia, and the Northern Territory. At least two calls to triple-0 from south-western New South Wales also failed to connect. Optus waited 40 hours to inform the public about the incident, sparking outrage over its delayed handling. Immediate Impact and Response: Australian officials have promised "significant consequences" for Optus, with the nation's communications regulator launching an investigation into the outage. The company's chief executive has apologized to the families of those who died and the public for the "completely unacceptable" failure. Background Context: This is not the first major outage for Optus in recent years. In 2020, a similar incident left thousands without phone or internet services. Critics argue that such failures highlight the urgent need for improved infrastructure and more robust backup systems. What Happens Next: As investigations continue, experts warn of potential long-term consequences for public trust in telecom providers. Optus has promised to cooperate fully with regulators and implement measures to prevent similar incidents in the future. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of reliable emergency services infrastructure. *This story is developing. Information compiled from Bbc reporting.*