Massive Optus outage disrupts calls and internet across Victoria
A large-scale Optus outage has once again struck Australia, leaving thousands of customers across Victoria’s Mornington Peninsula and Frankston regions without mobile or internet service. The disruption began early Wednesday morning, cutting off access to calls, texts, and data for both personal and business users.
According to ABC News Australia, the Optus outage has affected homes, hospitals, and businesses, with many reporting connectivity issues lasting for several hours. The telecommunications giant confirmed it is investigating the cause of the problem and working urgently to restore full service.
Local residents have expressed frustration on social media, describing the blackout as “unacceptable” following previous Optus outages earlier this year that impacted millions of Australians nationwide.
Areas most affected by the Optus outage
The Optus outage has primarily hit customers in the Mornington Peninsula, Frankston, and surrounding coastal suburbs. Reports also indicate intermittent issues in nearby regions including Dandenong and Cranbourne.
Residents have said they were unable to make emergency calls or access online services, prompting concerns about communication safety. Several small businesses have also reported payment disruptions due to the loss of mobile internet connections, forcing many to resort to cash-only transactions.
Mornington local Rebecca Hayes told ABC, “This is the third time this year we’ve experienced a major Optus outage. It’s more than just an inconvenience now — it’s impacting our livelihoods.”
Optus confirms service disruption and ongoing investigation
An Optus spokesperson acknowledged the outage in an official statement, confirming that technicians are working to identify the cause. “We are aware of a service disruption impacting some customers in the Mornington Peninsula and Frankston areas. Our teams are working around the clock to restore connectivity as quickly as possible,” the company said.
While the company has not yet disclosed the exact cause of the Optus outage, preliminary reports suggest that a fault in local transmission infrastructure may be to blame. Power interruptions in nearby network towers are also being investigated as a possible contributing factor.
The outage comes just months after Optus faced nationwide backlash for a major network collapse that left millions without service for nearly 12 hours, raising questions about the company’s infrastructure resilience.
Emergency services and public response
Local emergency services have issued advisories urging residents to use landlines or alternative carriers to make calls during the Optus outage. The Frankston Police Department confirmed that while 000 calls remain functional, response times may be delayed due to reduced connectivity in certain zones.
Hospitals and healthcare facilities in the region have also been affected. Staff at the Frankston Hospital reported temporary communication disruptions, although backup systems ensured that critical operations continued uninterrupted.
Many residents expressed their frustration online, with the hashtag #OptusOutage trending across social media platforms. Customers have demanded clearer communication and faster updates from the company.
Government and regulator response
In light of recurring Optus outages, the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) is reportedly monitoring the situation closely. The federal government has previously warned telcos to strengthen their systems and improve transparency during major service disruptions.
Communications Minister Michelle Rowland reiterated the importance of accountability, stating, “Australians deserve reliable communication networks. If repeated Optus outages continue to affect consumers, we will consider stronger regulatory measures to protect users and ensure better service continuity.”
Impact on local businesses and daily life
The economic fallout from the Optus outage is already being felt in small communities across the Mornington Peninsula. Retail stores, cafes, and service providers dependent on EFTPOS and mobile connectivity have reported losses due to failed payment systems.
Business owner Jason Lim said his cafe lost half its morning trade. “We couldn’t process any card payments, and we rely heavily on online orders. The Optus outage stopped everything,” he explained.
Meanwhile, schools and local councils have switched to alternative communication methods to maintain operations throughout the day.
Optus promises faster response and compensation review
Optus has assured customers that restoring connectivity is its top priority and said compensation policies are being reviewed. Customers affected by recent Optus outages could be eligible for service credits or data bonuses once normal operations resume.
In a follow-up message, the company stated, “We sincerely apologize for the inconvenience caused by today’s Optus outage. Our engineers are deploying additional resources to ensure this issue is resolved quickly and does not recur.”
Public calls for better reliability
This latest incident has reignited debate about the reliability of Australia’s major telecom providers. With repeated Optus outages in 2024 and 2025, many users are questioning whether infrastructure investments have kept pace with growing demand.
Industry analysts argue that Optus must prioritize network redundancy and faster fault detection technologies to rebuild customer trust.
The bottom line
As technicians race to restore full service, the Optus outage serves as another reminder of the critical role connectivity plays in modern life. Whether for emergency communication, business operations, or everyday social interactions, Australians are demanding greater dependability from their telecom providers.
Optus has promised further updates throughout the day as it works to bring relief to thousands still offline.
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