Latest news with #AustralianCommunicationsandMediaAuthority
West Australian
04-06-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Telstra penalised for disruption to emergency call service used by people with hearing, speech impairments
Australia's biggest telco failed to provide emergency call service for a period of time last year during a software upgrade, the nation's media regulator has found. Telstra has paid just under $19,000 in fines and agreed to launch an independent review after it mistakenly disabled the connection to the emergency call relay service, which is used by people with hearing and speech impairments. An Australian Communications and Media Authority investigation found the 106 number — which can be used with a teletypewriter — was accidentally made unavailable for 12 hours and 46 minutes between July 5 and 6 last year, following a server migration process. A teletypewriter allows for typed messages to be communicated to police, fire and ambulance services over a phone line. Under emergency call services rules, telco providers must maintain the proper and effective functioning of their networks and facilities that are used to carry emergency calls. ACMA member and consumer lead Samantha Yorke said the regulator took any disruption to an emergency call service 'very seriously' given there could be devastating consequences for the public. 'This mistake could have contributed to very serious harm if someone who relies on this service had needed emergency assistance but was unable to get through,' she said. 'Fortunately, the records show no one attempted to use the 106 service for an emergency during the time the service was disabled.' Telstra has given ACMA a court enforceable undertaking to improve its relevant change management processes. It has also engaged an independent reviewer to look at the range of operational arrangements that support reliable delivery of the 106 emergency call service. Telstra has been contacted for comment. Rival telco Optus was fined a record $12 million by ACMA last November for its network outage a year earlier that left millions of Australians without mobile or internet access, and even left some customers unable to call triple-0.
7NEWS
25-05-2025
- Business
- 7NEWS
Australian watchdog issues warning to Elon Musk's satellite internet service Starlink
Elon Musk 's Starlink has been put on notice by the Australian communications watchdog. The controversial billionaire's satellite internet service received a warning from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) over complaints record-keeping. Telecommunications companies with more than 30,000 active services are required to file complaints reports with the authority no later than 30 days after each quarter. But Starlink failed to do so on four occasions between October 2023 and July 2024. 'Starlink's failure to submit the required complaints reports in a timely way hampered the ACMA in its role of monitoring whether Starlink is meeting its obligations towards consumers,' authority member Samantha Yorke said. The company has since provided the outstanding complaints reports and cooperated throughout the investigation. The Starlink satellite service has increased in popularity in parts of regional Australia, where internet is provided through the slower copper network instead of fibre-optic cables. Some say it could compete with Australia's National Broadband Network as thousands across the country are now believed to use the service in their homes. However, there are lingering concerns about the risks it could pose. In December, a regional telecommunications review found the foreign ownership of systems such as Starlink raises questions about data security and sovereign risks.
The Advertiser
22-05-2025
- Business
- The Advertiser
Australian watchdog issues warning to Musk's Starlink
Elon Musk's Starlink has been put on notice by the Australian communications watchdog. The controversial billionaire's satellite internet service has received a warning from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) over complaints record-keeping. Telecommunications companies with more than 30,000 active services are required to file complaints reports with the authority no later than 30 days after each quarter. But Starlink failed to do so on four occasions between October 2023 and July 2024. "Starlink's failure to submit the required complaints reports in a timely way hampered the ACMA in its role of monitoring whether Starlink is meeting its obligations towards consumers," authority member Samantha Yorke said. The company has since provided the outstanding complaints reports and cooperated throughout the investigation. The Starlink satellite service has increased in popularity in parts of regional Australia, where internet is provided through the slower copper network instead of fibre-optic cables. Some say it could compete with Australia's National Broadband Network as thousands across the country are now believed to use the service in their homes. However, there are lingering concerns about the risks it could pose. In December, a regional telecommunications review found the foreign ownership of systems such as Starlink raises questions about data security and sovereign risks. Elon Musk's Starlink has been put on notice by the Australian communications watchdog. The controversial billionaire's satellite internet service has received a warning from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) over complaints record-keeping. Telecommunications companies with more than 30,000 active services are required to file complaints reports with the authority no later than 30 days after each quarter. But Starlink failed to do so on four occasions between October 2023 and July 2024. "Starlink's failure to submit the required complaints reports in a timely way hampered the ACMA in its role of monitoring whether Starlink is meeting its obligations towards consumers," authority member Samantha Yorke said. The company has since provided the outstanding complaints reports and cooperated throughout the investigation. The Starlink satellite service has increased in popularity in parts of regional Australia, where internet is provided through the slower copper network instead of fibre-optic cables. Some say it could compete with Australia's National Broadband Network as thousands across the country are now believed to use the service in their homes. However, there are lingering concerns about the risks it could pose. In December, a regional telecommunications review found the foreign ownership of systems such as Starlink raises questions about data security and sovereign risks. Elon Musk's Starlink has been put on notice by the Australian communications watchdog. The controversial billionaire's satellite internet service has received a warning from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) over complaints record-keeping. Telecommunications companies with more than 30,000 active services are required to file complaints reports with the authority no later than 30 days after each quarter. But Starlink failed to do so on four occasions between October 2023 and July 2024. "Starlink's failure to submit the required complaints reports in a timely way hampered the ACMA in its role of monitoring whether Starlink is meeting its obligations towards consumers," authority member Samantha Yorke said. The company has since provided the outstanding complaints reports and cooperated throughout the investigation. The Starlink satellite service has increased in popularity in parts of regional Australia, where internet is provided through the slower copper network instead of fibre-optic cables. Some say it could compete with Australia's National Broadband Network as thousands across the country are now believed to use the service in their homes. However, there are lingering concerns about the risks it could pose. In December, a regional telecommunications review found the foreign ownership of systems such as Starlink raises questions about data security and sovereign risks. Elon Musk's Starlink has been put on notice by the Australian communications watchdog. The controversial billionaire's satellite internet service has received a warning from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) over complaints record-keeping. Telecommunications companies with more than 30,000 active services are required to file complaints reports with the authority no later than 30 days after each quarter. But Starlink failed to do so on four occasions between October 2023 and July 2024. "Starlink's failure to submit the required complaints reports in a timely way hampered the ACMA in its role of monitoring whether Starlink is meeting its obligations towards consumers," authority member Samantha Yorke said. The company has since provided the outstanding complaints reports and cooperated throughout the investigation. The Starlink satellite service has increased in popularity in parts of regional Australia, where internet is provided through the slower copper network instead of fibre-optic cables. Some say it could compete with Australia's National Broadband Network as thousands across the country are now believed to use the service in their homes. However, there are lingering concerns about the risks it could pose. In December, a regional telecommunications review found the foreign ownership of systems such as Starlink raises questions about data security and sovereign risks.
West Australian
22-05-2025
- Business
- West Australian
Australian watchdog issues warning to Musk's Starlink
Elon Musk's Starlink has been put on notice by the Australian communications watchdog. The controversial billionaire's satellite internet service has received a warning from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) over complaints record-keeping. Telecommunications companies with more than 30,000 active services are required to file complaints reports with the authority no later than 30 days after each quarter. But Starlink failed to do so on four occasions between October 2023 and July 2024. "Starlink's failure to submit the required complaints reports in a timely way hampered the ACMA in its role of monitoring whether Starlink is meeting its obligations towards consumers," authority member Samantha Yorke said. The company has since provided the outstanding complaints reports and cooperated throughout the investigation. The Starlink satellite service has increased in popularity in parts of regional Australia, where internet is provided through the slower copper network instead of fibre-optic cables. Some say it could compete with Australia's National Broadband Network as thousands across the country are now believed to use the service in their homes. However, there are lingering concerns about the risks it could pose. In December, a regional telecommunications review found the foreign ownership of systems such as Starlink raises questions about data security and sovereign risks.
Perth Now
22-05-2025
- Business
- Perth Now
Australian watchdog issues warning to Musk's Starlink
Elon Musk's Starlink has been put on notice by the Australian communications watchdog. The controversial billionaire's satellite internet service has received a warning from the Australian Communications and Media Authority (ACMA) over complaints record-keeping. Telecommunications companies with more than 30,000 active services are required to file complaints reports with the authority no later than 30 days after each quarter. But Starlink failed to do so on four occasions between October 2023 and July 2024. "Starlink's failure to submit the required complaints reports in a timely way hampered the ACMA in its role of monitoring whether Starlink is meeting its obligations towards consumers," authority member Samantha Yorke said. The company has since provided the outstanding complaints reports and cooperated throughout the investigation. The Starlink satellite service has increased in popularity in parts of regional Australia, where internet is provided through the slower copper network instead of fibre-optic cables. Some say it could compete with Australia's National Broadband Network as thousands across the country are now believed to use the service in their homes. However, there are lingering concerns about the risks it could pose. In December, a regional telecommunications review found the foreign ownership of systems such as Starlink raises questions about data security and sovereign risks.
