Three die as Optus triple-zero glitch impacts hundreds
Optus has apologised to telco customers as an outage that blocked triple-zero calls to hundreds of people in three states is linked to three deaths.
telecommunication service
Cost and complexity leaves the telco sector on hold
Australia must move faster in deploying telecommunications infrastructure or risk falling behind in the AI race, Telstra chief Vicki Brady says.
Deaf, non-verbal man among ‘inexcusable’ Optus targets
Optus is hoping a court will approve a $100 million fine after it engaged in "unacceptable" sales tactics affecting Indigenous and disabled customers.
computing and information technology
consumers
economy, business and finance
internet
science and technology
technology (general)
telecommunication service
NBN users gorge on fibre for healthier download speeds
Technology upgrades are transforming how Australian's connect to the internet, as the NBN Co's full-year results show many premises are using fibre.
advertising
breaking_news
casino and gambling
executive (government)
government
government departments
politics
regulatory policy and organisation
telecommunication service
Upper house pushing Labor on ‘secret’ gambling ads plan
The government is under pressure over its plans for gambling advertising as an independent senator pushes for the release of documents.
Optus says yes to record $100m fine for dodgy sales
Optus has agreed to a record fine for "unconscionable" sales to hundreds of consumers, including in remote Indigenous communities its network didn't cover.
Space to Gympie and beyond: satellite texts go live
Telstra has begun rolling-out the nation's first satellite to mobile texting service, a move the telco hopes will keep rural Australians better connected.
Telstra accused of beating around the bush on coverage
Telstra admits changing its website to update coverage claims, but denies it misled customers as the consumer watchdog considers the allegations.
Telco complaints a symptom of cost-of-living crisis
Telcos are failing to offer sufficient help to customers struggling to pay their bills, as the telecommunications watchdog receives a spike in complaints.
No tuning out as influencers reshape political campaign
Politicians need to find new ways to reach young voters or risk irrelevance, one of Australia's most prominent social media commentators says.
business (general)
consumers
internet
laws
litigation and regulation
networking
regulatory policy and organisation
safety of citizens
satellite and cable service
technology (general)
telecommunication equipment
telecommunication service
Is it down? Strict rules for telcos that suffer outages
Phone and internet users will be given more details when their services drop out under rules imposed on telecommunication providers.
Defence secretary ‘shared another chat on Yemen strike’
A report claiming the US defence secretary shared sensitive military details on another Signal chat has renewed criticism of the Trump administration.
Cops failed to act above the line with data, phone taps
A scathing ombudsman's review of police surveillance powers found state forces lacking in how they secretly accessed telecommunications data.
Telstra hikes dividend, announces $750m share buy-back
Telstra says it made $1.1 billion in profit in the six months to December 31, up 7.1 per cent from the same period in 2023.
‘More gaps, more drop-outs’: rise in complaints post-3G
Telcos have been urged to do better in rural Australia, with continued reports of poor mobile service and new black spots after the 3G mobile network closed.
act of terror
defence
espionage and intelligence
mass media
national security
politics
telecommunication service
terrorism
Espionage and terror threats grow in dangerous era
From hostile foreign nations targeting diaspora communities to youth radicalised online, the top spy agency's annual threat assessment warns risks have grown.
Telcos talk up 3G shut down amid ‘dire’ safety fears
Rural Australians have reported poor mobile service and new black spots after the 3G network closure, but the telcos say their coverage is steady or better.
Upgraded NBN could compete with Elon Musk’s Starlink
Australia must expand its network if it wants to compete with Elon Musk's offering and provide affordable, reliable internet to the regions, an expert says.
Brushes with death in the bush as digital gap persists
Towns have been left without power and mobile service during major disasters, with an independent review urging the government to bolster rural connectivity.
breaking_news
children
internet
mass media
media
parent and child
politics
telecommunication service
Social media ban ‘significant risk’ to child’s rights
A blanket social media ban for Australians under 16 has been criticised for limiting rights and not having enough privacy safeguards for all users.
Teen social media ban a step closer despite concerns
A social media ban is looming for Australians aged under 16 after the measure to force restrictions on many platforms cleared its first hurdle in parliament.
economy, business and finance
government
internet
national security
science and technology
telecommunication service
New routes to secure internet for Australia, Pacific
New cables will entrench Australia's role as a state-of-the-art connection point for large volumes of data in a global digital ecosystem, project partners say.
Warning Australians’ data at risk in social media ban
Global tech giant Meta and X owner Elon Musk warn the federal government's push to ban people younger than 16 from social media will affect all Australians.
$12m triple-zero fine over Optus outage
The nationwide Optus network outage in 2023 has cost the telco $12 million in fines for breaching triple zero rules, the industry regulator has announced.
Optus regrets ‘unacceptable’ conduct alleged by ACCC
Australia's second-largest telco says it failed to meet expectations after the consumer watchdog alleged "unconscionable conduct" against vulnerable customers.
Calls to upgrade regional connectivity as 3G shuts down
Farmers are urging telcos to ensure the safety of rural Australians is not placed at risk as Telstra and Optus begin to turn off their 3G networks.
Telcos to block phones that don’t link to triple zero
The 3G network switch-off will begin on Monday, with a new law enforcing the telcos to disconnect phones that cannot call the emergency line on 4G.
economy, business and finance
financial and business service
mass media
politics
technology (general)
telecommunication service
Locked out of your business account? Log in and tell us
Small businesses are fighting with tech giants after being locked out of accounts or waiting for payment and want a reboot on how their complaints are handled.
Telstra board to reflect on backlash over executive pay
A significant number of Telstra shareholders voted against the telco's remuneration report, in part because of issues related to its enterprise division.
Australia leads world in slaying social media ‘monster’
Australia will lead the world in cleaning up the mess that has made social media an urgent health crisis for children, a US expert says.
Hands off: Labor eyes privatisation fight over NBN
The federal opposition has been challenged to reveal its position on the future of the $51 billion NBN after Labor introduced laws to keep it publicly-owned.