Optus network disrupted by flooding

The Optus network in Queensland has been disrupted due to power outages as the flooding continues.

Optus government and corporate affairs general manager, Clare Gill, said in a statement that it has sent backup generators to some locations throughout the flood affected areas.

“We expect to experience some disruption to our mobile and fixed network infrastructure in the Brisbane CBD area due to the Energex power outage,” she said.

She added that this will affect the Brisbane transmission CBD facility, resulting in the loss of 2G and 3G mobile services in the area as well as some business services in the CBD.

“As network capacity has been prioritised for voice calls and SMS, mobile internet data will be slower than normal,” she said.

Optus reports that in Ipswich, several network nodes on its hybrid fibre-coaxial (HFC) network have been impacted, which is affecting fixed home phone and internet services to some customers.

Mobile towers in Toowooba at Helidon and Gunters Hill have no power.

“Limited services are still available as coverage to these towns is being supplemented by additional towers in the area,” Gill said.

Services have been restored at five mobile sites, including Gatton in the Lockyer Valley.

She added that the Optus Sydney to Brisbane link experienced an optical fibre break in the Helidon area.

“All protected services have been switched successfully to our coastal link, so residential and business customers have not been impacted," Gill said.

“Should customers need to contact emergency services in the event of an Optus mobile service disruption, we encourage customers to call 112 from their mobile to be switched to the nearest available mobile network."

Follow Computerworld Australia on Twitter: @ComputerworldAU