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Some triple-zero calls impacted, minister confirms, as Telstra says software glitch caused major outage

Published July 8, 2026 at 6:49 PM UTC

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On Wednesday morning, Telstra experienced a significant national service outage, affecting mobile services across Australia. The disruption led to widespread issues, including the inability for some customers to make emergency calls to triple-zero (000). Communications Minister Anika Wells confirmed that certain Telstra users were unable to contact emergency services during the outage. The company attributed the incident to a software defect and expressed sincere apologies for the inconvenience caused. By 4 pm on the same day, Telstra reported that the network issues had been fully resolved. The outage also impacted other critical services, such as regional train networks and card payment systems, leading to significant disruptions across the country. Telstra's Chief Financial Officer, Michael Ackland, stated that the company was investigating the root cause of the software glitch and was committed to implementing necessary changes to prevent future occurrences. Minister Wells emphasized that this incident was distinct from previous outages, such as the Optus outage in September, which had more severe consequences. She reassured the public that the current issue was a Telstra-specific retail outage affecting its customers nationwide. The government has urged Telstra to enhance its network infrastructure to prevent similar incidents in the future. The incident has raised concerns about the reliability of emergency communication services and the need for robust systems to ensure public safety. Telstra has pledged to work closely with authorities to address these concerns and restore public confidence in its services. The company has also initiated welfare checks for customers who attempted to make emergency calls during the outage to ensure their safety and well-being. As investigations continue, Telstra is focusing on strengthening its network to provide uninterrupted services to its customers. The government has called for a thorough review of Telstra's network management practices to identify and rectify any vulnerabilities that could lead to future service disruptions. The incident serves as a reminder of the critical importance of reliable communication services, especially during emergencies, and the need for continuous improvement in network infrastructure to meet the demands of the public.