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Optus

September

Former Optus CEO Kelly Bayer Rosmarin testified at the Senate inquiry into the telco’s outage

Optus communications ‘manifestly inadequate’ in 2023 phone outage

Senators want new rules to force telco groups to keep the public updated when phone and internet connections fail.

  • Updated
  • Jenny Wiggins
Optus sold its tower network to a business majority-owned by AustralianSuper in 2021.

AusSuper’s mobile towers empire slumps deep into the red

The country’s largest superannuation investor was already at odds with its partner, Singtel-owned Optus, over a delay in rolling out network infrastructure.

  • Jenny Wiggins
Telco companies don’t want to pay fees to add antennas to existing mobile phone towers.

Telco groups protest state ‘profiteering’ from antennas

Telecommunications companies are pushing NSW to scrap fees for adding antennas and other equipment to mobile towers on Crown land.

  • Jenny Wiggins
ASIC is investigating how boards and directors have responded to cyberattacks following warnings from ASIC chairman Joe Longo.

ASIC pursues board directors over cyber breaches 

ASIC says more investigations are underway, scrutinising how boards and directors have responded to cyberattacks.

  • Tess Bennett
Stephen Rue has been named Optus’ next CEO. But has some loose ends to tie up at NBN Co first.

Optus recruits make the most of NBN’s gardening leave

Catching everyone’s eye was Stephen Rue, having “continued to provide ongoing service to NBN Co during his notice period”.

  • Myriam Robin
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Shorten quits; Blackstone’s $100b AirTrunk plan; Corrs’ latest exit

Read everything that’s happened in the news so far today.

Communications tower, Australia

TPG Telecom, Optus network-sharing deal gets ACCC approval

TPG Telecom will market its mobile phone services to more Australians after the competition regulator said it could share networks with Optus in regional areas.

  • Jenny Wiggins
Vocus Group CEO Ellie Sweeney will run the National Broadband Network from December.

NBN Co names Vocus’ Ellie Sweeney as next CEO

The Vocus Group boss will step into Stephen Rue’s shoes as he prepares to take the reins at Optus.

  • Jenny Wiggins

August

Telephone companies are gearing up for a battle over what kinds of technology can be used to replace traditional fixed phone lines

Telcos gear up for tech showdown

Australia’s biggest telcos are battling for taxpayer dollars in the debate over replacing ageing copper wires.

  • Jenny Wiggins
Telstra CEO Vicki Brady

Why Telstra’s latest strategy shift might pay off

Why Vicki Brady wants to keep Telstra’s infrastructure assets close and growing even if mobiles remain today’s success story.

  • Updated
  • Jennifer Hewett
Optus is in an increasingly acrimonious dispute with the owner of its network infrastructure, AustralianSuper.

Optus falls out with its mobile towers investor AustralianSuper

The country’s largest super fund acquired a controlling stake in the telco’s infrastructure business for almost $2 billion in 2021. But relations have since soured.

  • Aaron Weinman and Jenny Wiggins
Authorities say a cyber incident happens once every six minutes in Australia.

Companies to face fines for failing to disclose cyber ransom payments

Legislation due to be introduced to federal parliament within weeks will require businesses with a turnover of $3 million or more to report payments to hackers.

  • Tom McIlroy
ptus has incurred a $480 million annual net loss, confirming a slump in demand for traditional telecommunications services

Optus’ Australian accounts show $480m loss

Optus filed its own accounts with regulators this week showing its annual loss deepened more than six-fold from a year earlier.

  • Jenny Wiggins

July

Former NSW premier Gladys Berejiklian outside her home in Sydney on Friday before the judgment was handed down.

Top barrister slams Berejiklian over corruption denial

Former ICAC assistant commissioner Anthony Whealy criticised the ex-NSW premier for her defiance after losing an appeal over a corruption finding.

  • Updated
  • Aaron Patrick
Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil is leading the government’s cybersecurity efforts in cabinet.

Cyber is our fastest growing national security threat: O’Neil

The Home Affairs Minister says Labor’s plans to boost Australia’s defences against increasing online risks are already delivering results.

  • Tom McIlroy
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Experts say the swift and effective intervention of the National Co-ordination Mechanism, under Home Affairs Minister Clare O’Neil, was a positive sign that Australia is becoming better at responding to IT disasters.

Why business is left helpless when big tech stuffs up

Experts say there is little most organisations can do to avoid future calamities like the CrowdStrike outage, but Australia’s emergency responses are improving.

  • Paul Smith
Unpaid Optus role: Communications Minister Michelle Rowland.

Hacked Optus gets award for cybersecurity nous

The irony of the award going to a company defending both a class action and an ACMA civil lawsuit for alleged security failures hung heavy in the room.

  • Updated
  • Myriam Robin
Law firm Slater & Gordon has admitted to underpaying workers more than $300,000.

Workers’ rights law firm admits to underpaying staff $300,000

Prominent class action firm Slater & Gordon says there are “no excuses” for the underpayment which was due to a decade-long miscalculation of leave entitlements.

  • Maxim Shanahan
Phillip Britt is the chief executive of Aussie Broadband. He wants to capture more of the broadband market with cheaper products.

Aussie Broadband discount offshoot Buddy chases lost customers

Aussie Broadband is hoping to win back some of the customers lost to rival Superloop with a new, cheap internet brand, Buddy Telco.

  • Jenny Wiggins
Superloop and Aussie Broadband are stealing share of the internet broadband market from Telstra, Optus and TPG Telecom

Competition for broadband intensifies as consumers crack down on bills

Small telcos such as Superloop and Aussie Broadband have been stealing internet customers from Telstra, TPG Telecom and Optus as consumers shop around.

  • Jenny Wiggins

Original URL: https://www.afr.com/company/optus-hnk