The Australian Communications and Media Authority (the ACMA) formally opened an investigation into Optus’ compliance with the Telecommunications (Emergency Call Service) Determination 2019 (the Determination) on Monday 13 November 2023.
The ACMA’s investigation will focus on the following obligations under the Determination:
- to provide assistance to one another (emergency ‘camp-on’);
- that networks and facilities give an end-user access to emergency call services;
- that end-users who make an emergency call are given access to the emergency call service;
- to ensure that an emergency call is carried to the relevant termination point for the call;
- to notify the emergency call person as soon as possible about a significant network outage;
- to undertake a welfare check on an end-user who made an unsuccessful emergency call during a significant network outage; and
- to cooperate with the emergency call person during a disruption to the emergency call service.
In order not to prejudice its outcomes, the ACMA will not be commenting further on, nor speculating about any potential outcomes of, the investigation while it proceeds.
It will make its investigation findings public once concluded.