General News
22 February, 2024
What's the backup? One telco hangs up
AUSTRALIA’S No 2 telecommunications company Optus has refused to detail local service backup plans after wild storms last week knocked out mobile phone and internet connections for up to four days. A spokesperson on Monday said: “We are...
AUSTRALIA’S No 2 telecommunications company Optus has refused to detail local service backup plans after wild storms last week knocked out mobile phone and internet connections for up to four days.
A spokesperson on Monday said: “We are monitoring our network and working with mains power authority to assess deployment of generators to impacted sites.”
However, questions on loss of connectivity across the Loddon were stonewalled. “Nothing further to add,” they said.
Worst affected was Inglewood where connections forced the town’s pharmacy to close, unable to access the internet and dispense prescriptions.
Other Brooke Street businesses also had interruptions to services between Tuesday and Friday.
However, Telstra said: “Most of our network sites have back up power that can keep services running for several hours after a power outage, but that back-up power may not last during extended outages.
“Power requirements of mobile base stations and exchanges are enormous. A typical regional mobile base station uses the same power as over 60 family sized refrigerators running 24/7. This places logistical limits on the types of back-up power and how long it can reasonably maintain operation during a failure of mains power.
“That’s why our teams on the ground have been deploying and refuelling generators as quickly as they can. We also worked closely with power authorities and emergency services to access and restore power to affected sites.”
A Powercor spokesman said all blackouts across the Loddon last week had been caused by storms. Most areas had power restored by late Wednesday afternoon.