Latest News
• Add My News • Search Old News
Optus outage prompts calls for mandated domestic mobile roaming and need for pilot in rural areasUrgency is stressed due to the cost-of-living crisis and impending natural disasters, advocating for enhanced coverage, safety, and a common-sense approach to the issue. By news@gippsland - 10th November 2023 - Back to News Leader of The Nationals David Littleproud is calling for mandated domestic mobile roaming in regional, rural and remote Australia in the wake of the Optus outage. Mr Littleproud said the outage, which impacted 10 million Australians, underlined the need to introduce mandated mobile roaming, by firstly piloting in regional, rural and remote areas of Australia, while broader capacity in the network could be built up. 
Adequate, reliable mobile coverage is crucial for Australians, with the recent Optus outage affecting 10 million emphasises the necessity of mandated domestic roaming Ensuring connectivityA domestic mobile roaming service is where a mobile network operator is able to roam onto the network of another mobile network operator, so they can provide services outside of their own network coverage. "We must ensure the outage that occurred with Optus never happens again. As households and businesses face a cost-of-living crisis, one of Australia's biggest telco outages in history hit them at the worst possible time." "We need a common sense approach to this problem. By starting mobile roaming in regional, rural and remote areas we can target it in the areas of greatest need, while potential pressures of roaming on metropolitan network capacity can be worked through before rolling out in the densely populated capital cities. The urgency for the regions is the tyranny of distance we face and the threat of natural disaster emergencies such as the upcoming bushfire season," Mr Littleproud said. Mr Littleproud said Australia doesn't even allow for emergency mobile roaming, (although it does allow for emergency calls to 000), which was a significant safety issue in regional areas. "The ACCC recently completed an inquiry into regional mobile infrastructure and found that emergency mobile roaming is beneficial during times of natural disasters or other emergencies." Urgent call for mandated roamingMr Littleproud also said, "The Communications Minister and Emergency Management Minister have both tasked their respective departments to work with carriers and report back to the government by March 2024. However, regional Australians are already experiencing natural disasters like bushfires as we head into summer." "Australians deserve and need adequate and reliable mobile coverage now. This week's outage proves the need for mandated domestic roaming, which would share all the towers between all the telcos. More importantly, mandated roaming is critical as a safety and emergency response." Mr Littleproud added it was disappointing that Labor voted against scrutiny of the government's handling of the Optus crisis. "We need to look at ways to better protect all Australians and the simple answer is mandated domestic mobile roaming," he said. Pictures from ABC News ( Australia) YouTube Channel.
Source: http://gippsland.com/ Published by: news@gippsland.com
Related Articles- Seacombe fire prompts calls for greater fuel reduction, improved firebreaks and stronger emergency access around Loch Sport communities
The Seacombe fire has prompted calls for increased fuel reduction, improved firebreaks and emergency access, with Loch Sport residents seeking stronger bushfire prevention measures. - Danny O'Brien calls for urgent action on ongoing Gippsland power outages impacting residents, businesses and critical services
The Nationals' Danny O'Brien is calling on the Victorian government to demand answers from electricity providers over repeated Gippsland outages disrupting residents, businesses and critical medical equipment. - Melina Bath calls on Labor to protect locally raised foreshore funds and community priorities across Eastern Victoria
Nationals MP Melina Bath has urged Labor to guarantee $500,000 raised by San Remo residents remains dedicated to local foreshore projects following committee merger concerns. - East Gippsland Council calls for fairer forestry transition funding, greater transparency and investment in affected communities before state election
East Gippsland Council is seeking fairer forestry transition funding, greater transparency and stronger investment to support affected communities, local economies, jobs and bushfire preparedness. - Darren Chester calls for Aged Care Minister's resignation over home support delays
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has called for Aged Care Minister Sam Rae's resignation, citing lengthy Support at Home delays, unanswered assistance requests and thousands of deaths while awaiting support. - East Gippsland Council calls for ESVF levy reform ahead of November Victorian state election
East Gippsland Shire Council is urging Victorian election candidates to reform the ESVF levy, citing disproportionate regional costs and seeking fairer, transparent emergency services funding. - East Gippsland Shire Council calls for election funding to unlock thousands of homes across the shire
East Gippsland Council is seeking $12 million in Victorian Election funding for infrastructure projects in Paynesville, Lakes Entrance and Lucknow, supporting thousands of new homes. - Mobile Service Centres bringing government support across South Gippsland communities an August and September
Australian government Mobile Service Centres will visit 12 South Gippsland communities, offering Medicare, Centrelink, myGov and Veterans’ Affairs assistance, with accessible facilities and Wi-Fi. - Darren Chester welcomes CBA Branch commitment, calls for stronger long-term regional banking protections across Gippsland
Federal Member for Gippsland Darren Chester has welcomed Commonwealth Bank’s commitment to keep 281 regional branches open until 2030, while seeking stronger long-term protections for face-to-face banking services. - Matthew Canavan welcomes Commonwealth Bank branch extension, calls for stronger government action to protect regional banking services
Nationals leader Matt Canavan welcomed Commonwealth Bank’s decision to keep 281 regional branches open until 2030, while urging the Government to protect banking access and rebuild services lost elsewhere. - East Gippsland Shire Council welcomes Temporary Disaster Roaming 1 October 2026, allowing access to other networks during eligible natural disasters
East Gippsland Shire Council welcomes Temporary Disaster Roaming, activated by Telstra, Optus and TPG on October 1, 2026, allowing access to other networks for essential calls, texts and limited data during eligible disasters. - Gippsland commuters stranded after V/Line services end early, prompting calls for reliable regional rail services
Melina Bath criticised Gippsland rail disruptions after AFL fans were stranded following an early service cutoff, calling for reliable regional transport and promising 1,110 additional seats on Traralgon and Bairnsdale services. - Sale coffee cup campaign spreads strong community message against domestic and family violence across local businesses
Sale's Rotary Club has launched a coffee cup awareness campaign against domestic and family violence, with MPs Darren Chester and Danny O'Brien urging businesses and residents to support the initiative. - Nationals and Liberals pledge PSOs at Morwell and Moe Stations, mobile CCTV trailers and 24-Hour Moe Police Station reopening
The Nationals and Liberals have pledged PSOs at Morwell and Moe stations, mobile CCTV across the Latrobe Valley, and restoring Moe Police Station to 24-hour operations under their community safety plan. - Darren Chester urges federal government to restore wild dog funding, backing farmers' calls for national management certainty
Shadow Minister Darren Chester is urging the federal government to restore national wild dog funding, warning of $302 million annual agricultural losses and significant impacts on farmers, wildlife and regional communities. - Southern Rural Water manages Gippsland storages during rainfall, balancing flood risks, water supplies and community safety
Southern Rural Water managed Gippsland water storages during significant weekend rainfall, using controlled releases to create capacity, reduce flood risks and protect community safety and water supplies. - West Gippsland CMA celebrates rural women’s contributions to agriculture, healthy catchments and sustainable farming futures
West Gippsland CMA celebrates rural women’s contributions through a podcast featuring dairy farmer Jess Knight, highlighting farm life, community connections, irrigation knowledge and sustainable agricultural practices shaping the region’s future. - Darren Chester says Gippsland’s 15 suspected illicit tobacco store closures highlight organised crime concerns and calls for tobacco excise reform
Gippsland MP Darren Chester says 15 suspected illicit tobacco store closures highlight organised crime concerns, advocating an 80 percent tobacco excise cut alongside stronger enforcement to combat the black market. - Darren Chester says Gippsland’s 15 suspected illicit tobacco store closures highlight organised crime concerns and calls for tobacco excise reform
Gippsland MP Darren Chester says 15 suspected illicit tobacco store closures highlight organised crime concerns, advocating an 80 percent tobacco excise cut alongside stronger enforcement to combat the black market. - Wellington Shire Council backs campaign seeking greater rural investment, improved roads, infrastructure funding and regional economic growth
Wellington Shire Council is backing Rural Councils Victoria’s campaign for greater investment in rural infrastructure, including roads, community facilities and a proposed $1 billion regional productivity and growth fund. - RACV survey highlights Gippsland highways among Victoria’s most concerning roads, prompting renewed calls for improved safety
RACV’s 2026 survey ranks Gippsland highways among Victoria’s most concerning roads, citing potholes, poor surfaces and safety issues. Nationals MP Danny O’Brien has outlined a $5 billion regional roads commitment. - Matt Canavan warns Australia is sleepwalking towards food crisis as population growth outpaces domestic food production
Matt Canavan has warned Australia is sleepwalking into a food security crisis, with population growth outpacing food production. He says projected shortages could affect pork, butter, eggs, apples, chicken and rice by 2040.
|
|
